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mul
sion
Plural
emulsions
1
a mixture of two liquids where tiny droplets of one are evenly dispersed in the other, like oil in water
- Mayonnaise is an example of an emulsion, with oil and vinegar forming a stable mixture through the addition of egg yolk as an emulsifying agent.
- Emulsions in salad dressings combine oil and vinegar, allowing them to mix temporarily before eventually separating without an emulsifier.
- Milk is a natural emulsion of fat in water, stabilized by proteins like casein to prevent the fat from separating.
- Emulsions are used in the cosmetic industry for products such as creams and lotions, where oil and water need to be combined for a stable consistency.
- Butter is an emulsion of water in fat, formed through the churning of cream, breaking down fat globules and dispersing them in the water phase.
2
a light-sensitive layer on paper or film, made of tiny silver bromide grains suspended in gelatin
Emulsion is a light-sensitive layer applied to photographic film or paper that captures images. It contains tiny crystals of silver salts suspended in a gelatin or similar substance. When exposed to light, these silver salts react to form an invisible image. During development, the emulsion's light-sensitive areas are processed to reveal a visible image. This layer is crucial for recording and producing photographs, whether on film or in print.
- The photographer carefully applied the emulsion to the film.
- Black-and-white prints rely on a silver halide emulsion to capture the image.
- The emulsion must remain light-free until the paper is ready for exposure.
- She inspected the emulsion for scratches before developing the photograph.
- Historical photographic processes used hand-coated emulsions.
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