Silver-thiosulfate complexes are produced by common photographic fixers. By dissolving silver halides the fixer stabilises the image. The dissolution process entails reactions involving the formation of 1:2 and 1:3 complexes (X = halide): Fixation involves these chemical reactions (X = halide, typically ):
Sodium aurothiosulfate dihydrate, , has been widely discussed in the context of the extraction of gold from its ores. Presently cyanide salts are used on a large scale for that
 purpose with obvious risks.