| Iodine | |
|---|---|
| Properties | |
| Atomic symbol | I |
| Atomic number | 53 |
| Classification | Halogen |
| Atomic mass | 126.90447 amu |
| Number of Stable Isotopes | 1 |
| Density (grams per cc) | 4.93 g/cm^3 |
| Other Information | |
| Date of discovery | 1811 |
| Name of discoverer | Barnard Courtois |
| Name origin | Greek 'iodes', violet |
| Uses | Pharmaceuticals, food supplements, dyes, catalysts. |
| Obtained from | Brine, seaweed. |
Iodine (Pronounced eye-o-dyne or eye-o-dean) is a chemical element. A trace element, it is required by humans for the synthesis of the thyroid hormone thyroxin. [1] People who do not get enough iodine in their diet can suffer from goiter, a disease of the thyroid. This is rarely a problem; but to make sure, iodine is often added to salt ("iodized salt".)
Iodine is a solid which sublimes at room temperature—it slowly evaporates directly into the gaseous vapor phase, without going through a liquid phase.
It was discovered by accident in 1811, while Barnard Courtois was treating seaweed ash (which contains a significant amount of iodine) with sulfuric acid.
For a long time a substance called "iodine" has been used as a household treatment/disinfectant for cuts and scrapes. That is actually tincture of iodine, a dilute solution of potassium iodide in alcohol.
References
| Periodic Table of the Elements | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | |||||||
53
I 126.9 |
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| *Lanthanides | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| **Actinides | ||||||||||||||||||||||||