The word "argentol" might look like an obscure term, but it actually refers to a silver photographic emulsion. The word is pronounced ar-jen-tol and is spelled with the phonetic symbols /ˈɑːdʒəntɒl/. The first syllable is pronounced with the "ar" sound as in "car," followed by a "jen" sound that begins with the "dʒ" sound as in "judge." The second syllable is pronounced with the "tɒl" sound as in "tall." Despite its uncommon appearance, argentol is an important ingredient in black-and-white photography.
Argentol refers to a photographic chemical compound, specifically a silver halide complex, that is used in the preparation of light-sensitive materials, mainly for black and white photography. The term derives from the Latin words "argentum" meaning silver and "halo" meaning salt.
In the field of photography, argentol is primarily used as a photographic developer or a component of developing solutions. It has the ability to reduce the exposed silver halide crystals on photographic film or photographic paper to metallic silver, thereby producing a visible image. This chemical compound acts as a catalyst, accelerating the development process and enhancing the overall quality of the photograph.
Argentol is highly effective in achieving a wide range of tones and contrasts, making it popular among photographers seeking to capture fine details and rich textures in their images. Additionally, the compound exhibits good light sensitivity, allowing for accurate reproduction of the original scene.
Due to its specialized nature, argentol is primarily employed in traditional darkroom photography. With the advent of digital photography and the widespread use of electronic imaging technologies, its usage has become relatively less common. Nonetheless, argentol still finds application among professional photographers, enthusiasts, and those artistically inclined, who prefer the aesthetic and tactile experience offered by traditional photographic techniques.
A trade name for silver oxyquinoline (oxychinoline) sulphonate; a yellowish powder, slightly soluble in water, and containing 32 parts of metallic silver; used as a dressing for wounds, an intestinal antiseptic, and an injection, in solution of 1 to 1000, in gonorrhea.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.