Re: [Leica] Re: Diltilled water

["Robert G. Stevens" <robsteve@istar.ca>]

Jim:

I will have to side with Ken on this one.  I remember in High School
Biology class we did an experiment on Osmosis in cells.  With distilled
water the cells would blow up and some explode.  I think it had to do with
the difference between inside the cell and outside.  I don't know wheter it
is trying to equalize the salinity or what, but a more knowlegeable person
than me can explain this.  The distilled water is so pure, it rushes in
through the membranes of the cell.  I think the emulsion is gelatin and
made of cells.  This may be the argument that Ken was using.

Regards,

Robert

    At 09:58 AM 2/18/99 -0800, you wrote:
>Huh??? 
>
>This is a phenomenon that I'm sure science would like explained.
>
>I've used deionized, distilled, and every other type of water in my 53
>years of darkroom work. And I can assure you that distilled, deionized, or
>any other kind of "normal" water, (except "hot" water,) will "not" soften
>or swell film emulsion. For E3, E4, and E6, I "always" mixed my chemicals
>with distilled water and used a final rinse of distilled water. Likewise
>with B&W. The only real water problem, is that some tap water contains
>chloramines, mineral compounds, and other molecular chemistry that can
>effect the pH of your developer. By using distilled water, or even
>deionized water, your chemistry will perform closer to normal.
>
>Distilled water is just water without the mineral compounds and pollutant
>junk in it. It's clean water.
>
>Use it.
>
>Jim
>
>At 11:34 AM 2/18/99 -0500, Ken wrote:
>>
>>Be careful with distilled water for the final rinse. It will cause the
>>emulsion to swell and become VERY soft!
>>
>>Ken Wilcox
>
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>
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