Nolan Russell

Discovery of Iodine

• Iodine was discovered by Bernard Courtois in 1811 in France. Courtois was trying to extract potassium chloride from seaweed. After crystallizing the potassium chloride, he added sulfuric acid to the remaining liquid. This, rather surprisingly, produced a purple vapor, which condensed into dark crystals. These were the first crystals of iodine Iodine’s name comes from the Greek work ‘iodes’ meaning violet.

Harmful effects

Uses of Iodine

• Iodine is important in medicine, in both radioactive and non-radioactive forms. Iodide and thyroxin, which contains iodine, are used inside the body. A solution containing potassium iodide (KI) and iodine in alcohol is used to disinfect external wounds Iodine is sometimes added to table salt to prevent thyroid disease. Iodine’s other uses include catalysts, animal feeds and printing inks and dyes.

Untitled Slide

• Classification: Iodine is a halogen and a nonmetal
• Color bluish-black solid, purple vapor
• Atomic weight: 126.9045
• State: solid
• Electrons: 53
• Protons: 53
• Neutrons in most abundant isotope: 74
• Electron shells: 2,8,18,18,7
• Electron configuration: [Kr] 4d10 5s2 5p5