Iodine | Chemistry

Chemistry Club, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada

Iodine, 53, ChemClub University of Waterloo, Waterloo ON

Iodine: In its gaseous form, iodine is a violet-pink gas, hence our choice for the background colour. As a solid, iodine is a lustrous metallic gray colour. Iodine is an essential trace element required for proper thyroid function. Our tile depicts the location of the thyroid on the silhouette of a woman. The thyroid gland produces two iodine-rich hormones, thyroxine and triiodothyronine, which are depicted to the sides of the woman. These hormones are important in metabolic regulation. Iodine deficiency affects more than two billion people leading to an array of health issues. Table salt is commonly iodized to avoid deficiencies.

Artwork by Michelle Revoy and Sabrina Stanley, University of Waterloo Chemistry Club, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada

Atomic properties*

Name:

Iodine

Symbol:

I

Atomic number:

53

Atomic mass:

126.904 amu

Melting point:

113.7°C

Boiling point:

184.4°C

Density:

4.93 g/cm³

Electronegativity:

2.66

# of Isotopes:

5

State:

Solid

Colour:

Violet, dark-grey-lustrous±

Classification:

Non-metallic±

* Haynes, W. M. (2011). CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics, 91st edition: http://www.hbcponline.com/ Retrieved April 7, 2011

± Winter, M. (2010). Home of the Periodic Table. Retrieved April 8, 2011, from Web Elements: http://www.webelements.com/