The physical nature of iodine is a dark-gray or purple-black color that is lustrous and solid. It is a low-reacting and electropositive halogen. A chemical reaction involving iodine and other elements can form compounds. The chemical melts and turns into a purple vapor when heated. Apart from that, the water and carbon tetrachloride are solvents of iodine, although iodine is slightly soluble when mixed with water. Contact crude iodine suppliers if you require the chemical for industrial purposes. Its atomic number is 53. A constant supply of iodine is necessary because there are many industrial uses for the element.
The Uses of Iodine
Medical facilities and hospitals can contact crude iodine suppliers for treating patients. Tincture and even iodoform are by-products of the chemical element. Iodine is useful in the manufacture of dyes and inks. Also, it is an ingredient in the production of specific types of medicine. Photographers use silver iodine in their photo studios. Table salt and animal salts are products of iodine. They are crucial for adding flavor to food and enhancing the health of humans and animals respectively. Companies that manufacture water treatment drugs
use the element for purification purposes.
The element can easily absorb X-rays and is commonly used to produce some of the diagnostic contrast-media. Biochemical plants use the element as a raw material for the production of disinfectants and bactericides. The film industry also depends on the chemical as a photo-sensitizer, catalyst, and stabilizer. It is essential for polarizing videos onto the display made from crystal.
Areas Where Iodine is Present
The ocean contains numerous deposits of the chemical. Never the less, some aquatic animals and plants have mechanisms of storing the salt inside their body tissues. The living creatures are beneficial since they convert the salt into iodide, hydrochloric acid, or methyl iodide and excrete it to continue and complete the bio-cycle.
The air comprises of multiple kinds of substances like iodine. The salt is available in the soil and even water.
Minerals deposits from regions like Chile, New Mexico, Colorado, and Nevada contain iodine. Also, natural oil brines in Chile have deposits of nitrates. These waters contain dissolved salts or ions. They are common in countries such as Japan and the United States of America. The companies in Chile produce over 50% of iodine, which is half the capacity in production globally.
The Impact of Iodine on Health
Wound cleansers and medicine contain iodine as a vital ingredient. The element is essential and has no substitutes or alternatives.
Human beings should eat bread frequently since it helps in building thyroid hormones that facilitate the development of the body’s nervous system and metabolism. A sudden shortage of iodine causes the thyroid gland to slow down and swell. The condition is known as struma, which is rare since salt companies add small doses of iodide into salt. On the other hand, it is dangerous to consume foods containing high levels of iodide because the gland will wear out quickly, causing a change of the heartbeat pattern and also loss of weight.
Vapour produced after heating iodine irritates the eyes and the lungs.
Nuclear weapon testing in the atmosphere requires Iodine 131, which belong in the category of radionuclides. Long-term usage of the element increases the risk of cancer.
Lack of sufficient amounts of iodine in the body may cause a disease called a goiter. The thyroid gland enlarges, making the neck appear swollen.
The Impact of Iodine on the Environment
When air combines with the water particles, it forms a precipitate that contains iodine, which mixes with soil and water. The element later reacts with organic matter that retains it for an extended period. Plants are capable of absorbing iodine using their roots. Animals absorb the chemical after consuming vegetation growing in iodine-filled grounds.
Ocean water and other water bodies undergo evaporation. The iodine escapes into the air. People may also contribute to the build-up of iodine when they burn fossil fuels such as coal and crude oil, although it is little when compared to the iodine released from the oceans.
A chemical reaction inside the earth’s atmosphere might form radioactive isotopes. The naturally formed compounds have short half-lives and become stable faster.
Prices of Iodine
The element is rare, with a wide range of uses for commercial purposes. The amount of iodine produced in the world market stands at approximately 30, 000 metric tons. The rate of growth per year is about 5%. The demand for iodine is growing in developing countries for the manufacture of products. The prices have escalated because the supply of the element is under control by a few countries.
The Alternatives and Substitutes of Iodine
Most of the uses of iodine do not require substitutes. They include the pharmaceutical industry, human, and animal applications. Besides, it is possible to use alternative elements for chemical use such as bromine or chlorine for the production of ink, color, and disinfectants.
