Wikijunior:The Elements/Iodine
What does it look, feel, taste or smell like?
Iodine is a dark grey or purple solid. It can sublimate into a purple-pink gas that has an irritating odor.
How was it discovered?
Iodine was discovered by Barnard Courtois in 1811 by accident.
Where did its name come from?
Iodine gets its name from the Greek word iodes, which means purple. It is a purple element in both the solid and gas phase.
Did You Know?
- Iodine changes directly from a solid to a gas at room temperature.
- Although many people think of iodine as a dark bluish liquid, it's actually a purple solid.
- Yet another interesting fact.
Where is it found?
Iodine is mostly found in seawater as iodide (). Seaweed and kelp can absorb iodide and store it, making it easy to harvest.
What are its uses?
Iodine is necessary as part of the diet of many organisms. This is because it is part of thyroid hormones produced by the thyroid gland in your neck. Not consuming enough iodine causes a condition called goiter, where the thyroid gland grows abnormally. We "iodize" salt by putting iodine in it so that we can get the proper amount of iodine in our diet.
Iodine is also used to kill bacteria when someone gets a cut.
Is it dangerous?
Elemental iodine is dangerous and poisonous.