Which step in film processing occurs immediately after exposure and before fixation and washing?

Which step in film processing occurs immediately after exposure and before fixation and washing?

• A. Drying
• B. Development
• C. Washing
• D. Fixation

Answer: (B)

Development occurs immediately after exposure. It uses a chemical developer to reduce the exposed silver halide crystals to metallic silver, turning the latent image into a visible radiographic image. This must come before fixation and washing because fixation removes unexposed silver halide and stops the development process; if fixation were done first, the image would not form properly. After development, the film is fixed to harden the emulsion and clear unexposed crystals, then washed to remove chemicals, and finally dried.

Development occurs immediately after exposure. It uses a chemical developer to reduce the exposed silver halide crystals to metallic silver, turning the latent image into a visible radiographic image. This must come before fixation and washing because fixation removes unexposed silver halide and stops the development process; if fixation were done first, the image would not form properly. After development, the film is fixed to harden the emulsion and clear unexposed crystals, then washed to remove chemicals, and finally dried.