Iodine

From BMEzine Encyclopedia

Iodine (from the Greek Iodes, meaning violet; chemical symbol I) is an element first discovered, accidentally, by Barnard Courtois in 1811. It is a dark purple-black solid that sublimates at standard temperatures into a purplish gas with an irritating odor. Iodine is atomic number 53, and is placed in the halogen group (group VII) in the periodic table of the elements. It is the least active element of this group, and is only slightly soluble in water, where it gives a yellow-brown solution.

Iodine is required in trace amounts for most living organisms. Deficiency may lead to a condition called goitre, an inflammation of the thyroid gland. To prevent against iodine deficiency, table salt is generally sold with iodine added to it.

Iodine solutions are excellent disinfectants, and is often used to disinfect the skin before surgery, giving blood, and sometimes before piercing.

Risks

Iodine should be handled with care, as direct contact will cause lesions on the skin. Iodine vapor is extremely irritating to the mucus membranes and the eye.