Is it the exposure to oxygen or does the two parts mixed together work to oxidize it quickly as well?
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Is it the exposure to oxygen or does the two parts mixed together work to oxidize it quickly as well?
There are several things going on, but to make a complicated long story short and simple, oxidation of the developing agents is accelerated in an alkaline environment - which is what happens when you mix part B (the alkali) with part A. In the case of tanning/staining developers, there is also relatively little preservative present. Part A will still go bad over time due to oxidation, but it is a much slower process than when the working solution is mixed.
I get it. Thanks.