Improved chemical sensitization is provided by a photographic silver halide emulsion chemically sensitized with water-soluble gold(I) compound represented by the formula: ##STR1## wherein Z represents the substituted or unsubstituted nitrogen and carbon atoms necessary to complete a 5- or 6-member imide nucleus; and M is a cation. Such a chemically sensitized photographic silver halide emulsion is useful in a photographic silver halide element and process.