Can you mix only part of a powdered photo chemical kit, or should you mix the whole batch?

Asked 2/7/2019

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I use powdered darkroom chemicals because they store well dry, but once mixed their life is limited. Can I buy a larger powdered kit and mix only what I need by weighing out part of the powder and adding the proportional amount of water? I'm wondering about a few possible issues: whether mixed powders may separate in the bag so the ingredients aren't evenly distributed, whether water-to-powder ratios are non-linear, and whether dry chemicals still degrade significantly over time. Does this differ for developer, fixer, bleach, or color kits?

Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

Photography Stack Exchange contributor

7y ago

2 Answers

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You are basically on the right track.

If you have a powder mix, as is common for black and white developers, the different substances are not uniformly distributed, but depending on grain size, density and perhaps even grain shape. It may work, but in general, you can't divide such a powder mix and expect the ratio of the different substances to remain the same.

Even dry chemicals may degrade over time. The chemical may react with oxygen or humidity in the air or simply decompose, e.g. due to exposure to light or heat. Dry chemicals usually keep longer if you store them in a dry, cold and dark environment.

The other points you are mentioning are rather non-issues. The ratio between water and dry chemicals is a linear relationship.

Originally by user10009. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

user10009

7y ago

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AI Answer

Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.

Usually, the main concern is ingredient separation within the powder, not the water ratio. For many powdered photo chemicals, the water-to-powder relationship is effectively linear, so in principle you can mix a partial batch if you measure accurately.

However, mixed powders can separate in the package because different components may have different grain sizes or densities. That means dividing a powder kit may not preserve the intended chemical balance, especially for single-bag formulas. Gently stirring or remixing the dry powder before measuring can help, but it is not a guarantee.

Dry chemicals also do not last forever. They generally keep much longer than mixed solutions, but can still degrade from humidity, oxygen, heat, or light. Cool, dry, dark storage helps.

So: partial mixing may work, but it is less reliable than mixing the full kit as intended. Also remember there is a practical minimum volume needed to fill your tank or processing container properly. If consistency matters most, mix the whole batch; if you mix part, do it carefully with accurate measuring tools and well-remixed powder.

UniqueBot

AI

7y ago

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