What Is Iodine?

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What Is Iodine?

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Answer 1

Iodine is a non metallic chemical element that comes under the group Halogens in Chemistry it is rarely found in the free state and occurs generally in the form of compounds.

Iodine is a vital element required in trace quantities in various organisms including human beings in humans it is required for the proper functioning of the thyroid gland as the thyroid hormones contain iodine and are essential as metabolism regulators in the body. Iodine deficiency is known to cause goiter a swelling in the throat, and also mental retardation in children.

The requirements of the body are sufficiently met by the use of dairy products and salt which is iodine enriched though people living in coastal areas do not need extra supplements as the element is present in sea water and the surrounding environment as well as in shellfish and crustaceans like lobsters which are consumed as food. Tincture of iodine is a solution comprising iodine in ethyl alcohol and is used as an antiseptic radioactive iodine is used in Radiation therapy in the treatment of Cancer.

Answer 2

Iodine is a non-metallic element that comes under the group VII, which is the group of halogens. It is very reactive and it react with most of the metals to form salts. It consist of very small molecules, within containing two atoms, and so are being described as being diatomic. The two atoms within each molecule are held together by strong covalent bonds but the forces between the molecules are weak, so the melting and boiling points of iodine is low, boiling below 200 degree C. Iodine must be handled carefully in the lab as it is poisonous. Iodine forms an ion with a charge of -1. The compounds formed with it is ionic. It also react vigorously with metals to form ionic salt. Iodine also displaces from solution the ions of halogens below it.