What is the purpose of chemical processing in radiography?

The purpose of chemical processing in radiography is to convert the invisible latent image that is formed after the film is exposed to radiation into a visible image. When the film is exposed to X-rays, the energy creates a latent image that is not yet visible until the film undergoes a series of chemical reactions. During chemical processing, the film is treated with specific developers and fixers that react with the exposed silver halide crystals in the emulsion. The developer reduces these crystals to metallic silver, making the areas exposed to radiation appear darker on the film. Meanwhile, the fixer removes unexposed or undeveloped silver halide crystals, stabilizing the image. This crucial transformation from latent to visible image allows professionals to interpret the radiographs.

Other options do not accurately reflect the primary function of chemical processing. Enhancing visibility without exposure does not pertain to the core role of developing film. Creating a digital copy refers to a different system involving digital imaging technologies, and while reducing development time can be a benefit of certain modern processing methods, it is not the primary purpose of chemical processing itself.