Question

Why do Silver Halides decompose In light?

Answer 1

Silver Halides:

• Silver halide is one of the chemical compounds which are formed by the reaction between silver and halogen atoms.
• Silver halide is a light-sensitive chemical.
• When silver halides are exposed to light, they undergo a photolytic decomposition reaction to produce silver metal and halogen.

Example: Decomposition of Silver bromide

$\underset{\mathrm{Silver}\mathrm{bromide}}{2\mathrm{AgBr}\left(\mathrm{s}\right)}\stackrel{\mathrm{Light}}{\to }\underset{\mathrm{Silver}}{2\mathrm{Ag}\left(\mathrm{s}\right)}+\underset{\mathrm{Bromine}}{{\mathrm{Br}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right)}$

• These compounds are used in photographic film and paper as they would react with light to form the image by reducing silver halides to silver.