Iodine (I)
Iodine is essential for thyroid function. It sublimes into a beautiful violet vapor.
Properties of Iodine
- Atomic number
- 53
- Category
- Halogen
- Atomic mass
- 126.9 u
- Electron configuration
- [Kr] 4d¹⁰ 5s² 5p⁵
- Melting point
- 386.85 K (113.7 °C)
- Boiling point
- 457.4 K (184.25 °C)
- Density
- 4.93 g/cm³
- Electronegativity (Pauling)
- 2.66
- Appearance
- Lustrous purple-black solid
- Discovered by
- Bernard Courtois (1811)
Facts about Iodine
- Iodine turns into a beautiful purple gas when heated!
- Your thyroid gland needs iodine to work properly!
- Iodine is added to table salt to prevent iodine deficiency!
- Iodine solution turns dark blue-black when it touches starch — a cool chemistry trick!