how cant I tell if the chemicals for develop black and white pics are still good?

Question

do need to be perfect clear or they can be little brown?

Answer 1

they should be clear

but a little brown maybe ok
you could use them for a test to determine whether they are still ok

cut some test film for it ,not the whole role

Answer 2

The color doesn't really matter with developer, the chemical is a light brown, but as it ages it doesn't change color. Developer for b/w prints becomes exhausted...so when it is taking more than a minute and half to develop your print fully, you're developer is bad and needs to be replaced. I use Kodak and Ilford chemicals, but I have also used Sprint chemicals in school, and it's the same for them all.
Also...stop bath turns purple when it's going bad, and to test fixer you need to purchase a fixer tester. I forgot the name of it, but it is sold in a little eye dropper container. So you put a few drop of that in the fixer and if it clouds it's bad.
Hope that helps! Have fun!

Answer 3

Clear - a little brown may still make a picture but - Fresh chemicals are always best.