Photogray lenses contain small embedded crystals of solid silver chloride. Silver chloride is light-sensitive because of the reaction
AgCl(s) → Ag(s) + Cl(s)
Small particles of metallic silver cause the lenses to darken. In the lenses this process is reversible. When the light is removed, the reverse reaction occurs. However, when pure white silver chloride is exposed to sunlight, it darkens; the reverse reaction does not occur in the dark.
a. How do you explain this difference?
b. Photogray lenses do become permanently dark in time. How do you account for this?