Iodine is a blue-black, lustrous, and highly reactive element that has a number of important uses in industry and medicine.
Sources of Iodine: Iodine is primarily obtained from the mineral iodide (calcium iodide), which is found in seawater and in deposits in several countries, including Chile and Japan.
Uses of Iodine:
Medical use: Iodine is used in medicine as a disinfectant and as a component of some contrast agents for medical imaging.
Additive in animal feed: Iodine is used as a trace element in animal feed to improve the health of livestock and poultry.
Electronic devices: Iodine is used as a component in some electronic devices, such as cathode ray tubes and photovoltaic cells.
Agriculture: Iodine is used as a soil additive in agriculture to improve the health and yield of crops.
Properties of Iodine:
Density: Iodine has a density of 4.93 g/cm3.
Melting point: The melting point of iodine is 114.6°C.
Chemical reactivity: Iodine is a highly reactive element that readily forms compounds with other elements.
Solubility: Iodine is soluble in many solvents, including water, making it an important component in many chemical reactions.
Extraction of Iodine: Iodine is extracted from its minerals through a series of chemical processes, including leaching, purification, and crystallization. The purified iodine is then usually packaged for use in industry or medicine.