It’s hard to imagine a chemical laboratory without special cones, test tubes, chemicals, and so on. One of the dangerous but necessary substances is crystalline iodine. What it is? Crystalline iodine is important for various experiments, without which it is impossible to imagine the existence of any chemical laboratory. Although it is used in many industries, but still a priority is pharmaceuticals and medicine.
Opening
In 1811, an inquisitive and very attentive scientist B. Courtois discovered that a plaque (a substance unknown at that time) was formed on the walls of the boilers to obtain soda from algae. Then the scientist decided to tackle this issue closely, and soon he received the same powder, which when heated gave beautiful purple puffs of smoke.
Then they published information about this new substance. Other scientists began to be interested in him. They gave him the name "iodine", which means "violet".
Rename
In the mid-twentieth century, the well-known iodine, element No. 53 in the periodic table of the periodic table, denoted by J, was renamed Iodine, after which it began to be denoted by the letter I.
Despite this, it continues to be called iodine to this day: even in a pharmacy, on the labels of preparations containing this element, it is impossible to find the correct name of this substance.
Chemical properties
Crystalline iodine is more often referred to simply as iodine in the chemical nomenclature. These are small crystals with a metallic tint of an unusual color - something between gray and black.
As for the smell, it is sharp and characteristic. If you place the crystals at room temperature, they will have a dark purple color, and the luster will not be so pronounced. An interesting feature: crystalline iodine forms steam when heated, and crystallization occurs immediately upon cooling. At the same time, such an aggregate state as a liquid is skipped. Iodine is highly soluble in liquids, excluding water.
Where is contained
Crystalline iodine has the property of dispersion in nature. What does it mean? It can be found almost everywhere: in seawater, in living organisms and even in algae, for example, in the well-known seaweed. Iodine can also be found in very rare minerals that have been found in Italy.
As for the extraction of the substance under industrial conditions, it is obtained from seaweed and oil drilling water.
Crystalline iodine: application
It is used in medicine, chemistry. From iodine, which is in the form of a crystal, preparations are made not only for external use, but also for internal use.
Iodine in dissolved form, as many are accustomed to seeing it, contains only 5 mg of crystalline. For external use, it is used for many iodine ointments, alcohol solutions. If these drugs are used externally, they have an antiseptic, anti-inflammatory effect. A substance is used to treat wounds, wiping the surgeon's hands during surgery.
Inside use
In addition to external use, crystalline iodine is also used for oral administration, but of course not in its pure form. Why is this needed? To normalize the metabolism, to replenish the body with the necessary substances and vitamins. Also, with iodine intake, the thyroid gland improves.
Everyone knows the drug "Iodomarin" is recommended for everyone, without exception, since there is a lot of iodine in the body only in people living by the sea.
How to get
Crystalline iodine is a very common substance. It can be bought at a pharmacy at an affordable price. If you did not find it in the pharmacy (which is extremely surprising), then you can order it in online stores. The Internet is filled with offers of sellers of crystalline iodine of good quality and at affordable prices.