When using silver nitrate, what type of clean-up is required post-development?

The correct choice indicates that the use of bleach is a necessary step in the clean-up process after developing prints with silver nitrate. Silver nitrate reacts with light to form silver, which can leave behind residues that may tarnish or stain surfaces and could also interfere with further analyses or applications.

Bleach, especially sodium hypochlorite, effectively breaks down and removes these silver compounds, ensuring that any residual silver is adequately handled and does not pose a contamination risk. This step is crucial for maintaining a clean and uncontaminated workspace after the development process.

In the context of the other options, using vinegar as a neutralization method may not be effective for silver compounds, since it does not directly address the removal of silver residues. Alcohol is sometimes used as a cleaning solvent, but it is not specifically effective against silver residues left by silver nitrate. An acid rinse could potentially harm surfaces or materials in the workspace and does not specifically target the byproducts of silver nitrate development. Thus, utilizing bleach provides a thorough and effective means of clean-up.