I 53

Iodine (I)

halogen
Period: 5 Group: 17 Block: p

Solid

Standard Atomic Weight

126.90447 u

Electron configuration

[Kr] 5s2 4d10 5p5

Melting point

113.7 °C (386.85 K)

Boiling point

184.4 °C (457.55 K)

Density

4930 kg/m³

Oxidation states

−1, +1, +2, +3, +4, +5, +6, +7

Electronegativity (Pauling)

2.66

Ionization energy (1st)

Discovery year

1811

Atomic radius

140 pm

Details

Name origin Greek: iôeides (violet colored).
Discovery country France
Discoverers Bernard Courtois

Iodine is a heavy halogen and the least abundant stable halogen in Earth’s crust. The element occurs naturally as iodide and iodate rather than as free I₂. It is chemically less electronegative and less strongly oxidizing than bromine or chlorine, and it forms a wide range of covalent, ionic, and polyiodide species. Iodine is an essential trace element for vertebrates because thyroid hormones contain iodine atoms.

Iodine is a bluish-black, lustrous solid, volatizing at ordinary temperatures into a blue-violet gas with an irritating odor; it forms compounds with many elements, but is less active than the other halogens, which displace it from iodides. Iodine exhibits some metallic-like properties. It dissolves readily in chloroform, carbon tetrachloride, or carbon disulfide to form beautiful purple solutions. It is only slightly soluble in water.

The name derives from the Greek iodes for "violet" because of its violet vapours. Iodine was discovered in seaweed by the French chemist Bernard Courtois in 1811, and named by the French chemist Louis-Joseph Gay-Lussac, when he proved it was an element in 1814.

Iodine was discovered by the French chemist Barnard Courtois in 1811. Courtois was extracting sodium and potassium compounds from seaweed ash. Once these compounds were removed, he added sulfuric acid (H2SO4) to further process the ash. He accidentally added too much acid and a violet colored cloud erupted from the mass. The gas condensed on metal objects in the room, creating solid iodine. Today, iodine is chiefly obtained from deposits of sodium iodate (NaIO3) and sodium periodate (NaIO4) in Chile and Bolivia. Trace amounts of iodine are required by the human body. Iodine is part of thyroxin, a hormone produced by the thyroid gland that controls the body's rate of physical and mental development. A lack of iodine can also cause a goiter, a swelling of the thyroid gland. Iodine is added to salt (iodized salt) to prevent these diseases.

From the Greek word iodes, violet. Discovered by Courtois in 1811, Iodine, a halogen, occurs sparingly in the form of iodides in sea water from which it is assimilated by seaweeds, Chilean saltpeter, nitrate-bearing earth (known as caliche), brines from old sea deposits, and in brackish waters from oil and salt wells.

Images

Properties

Physical

Atomic radius (empirical) 140 pm
Covalent radius 139 pm
Van der Waals radius 198 pm
Density
Molar volume 0.0257 L/mol
Phase at STP solid
Melting point 113.7 °C
Boiling point 184.4 °C
Specific heat capacity 0.214 J/(g·K)
Molar heat capacity 54.43 J/(mol·K)
Crystal structure orthorhombic

Chemical

Electronegativity (Pauling) 2.66
Electronegativity (Allen) 2.359
Electron affinity
Ionization energy (1st)
Ionization energy (2nd)
Ionization energy (3rd)
Ionization energy (4th)
Ionization energy (5th)
Oxidation states −1, +1, +2, +3, +4, +5, +6, +7
Valence electrons 7
Electron configuration
Electron configuration (semantic)

Thermodynamic

Triple point (temperature) 113.6 °C
Triple point (pressure) 1.211000e+4 Pa
Critical point (temperature) 546 °C
Heat of fusion 0.16085402 eV
Heat of vaporization 0.21661398 eV
Heat of sublimation 0.64714722 eV
Heat of atomization 1.566047 eV
Atomization enthalpy

Nuclear

Stable isotopes 1
Discovery year 1811

Abundance

Abundance (Earth's crust) 0.45 mg/kg
Abundance (ocean)

Reactivity

N/A

Crystal Structure

Lattice constant a 772 pm

Electronic Structure

Electrons per shell 2, 8, 18, 18, 7

Identifiers

CAS number 7553-56-2
Term symbol
InChI InChI=1S/I
InChI Key ZCYVEMRRCGMTRW-UHFFFAOYSA-N

Electron Configuration Measured

Ion charge
Protons 53
Electrons 53
Charge Neutral
Configuration I: 4d¹⁰ 5s² 5p⁵
Electron configuration
Measured
[Kr] 4d¹⁰ 5s² 5p⁵
1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 3d¹⁰ 4s² 4p⁶ 4d¹⁰ 5s² 5p⁵
Orbital diagram
1s
2/2
2s
2/2
2p
6/6
3s
2/2
3p
6/6
4s
2/2
3d
10/10
4p
6/6
5s
2/2
4d
10/10
5p
5/6 1↑
Total electrons: 53 Unpaired: 1 ?

Atomic model

Protons 53
Neutrons 74
Electrons 53
Mass number 127
Stability Stable

Isotopes change neutron count, mass, and stability — not the electron configuration of a neutral atom.

Schematic atomic model, not to scale.

Atomic Fingerprint

Emission / Absorption Spectrum

25 / 50 (50 with intensity)
Measured
Emission Visible: 380–750 nm

Isotope Distribution

Monoisotopic element
Only naturally occurring isotope: 127 — 100.0000%
127100.0000%Mass numberNatural abundance (%)
Mass numberAtomic mass (u)Natural abundanceHalf-life
127 Stable126.9044719 ± 0.0000039100.0000%Stable
Measured

Phase / State

1 atm / 101.325 kPa
Solid 25 °C (298.15 K)

Reason: 88.7 °C below melting point (113.7 °C)

Melting point 113.7 °C
Boiling point 184.4 °C
Below melting by 88.7 °C
0 K Current temperature: 25 °C 6000 K
Phase timeline

Schematic, not to scale

Solid
Liquid
Gas
Melting
Boiling
25°C
Solid
Liquid
Gas
Current

Phase transition points

Melting point Literature
113.7 °C
Boiling point Literature
184.4 °C
Current phase Calculated
Solid

Transition energies

Heat of fusion Literature
0.16085402 eV

Energy required to melt 1 mol at melting point

Heat of vaporization Literature
0.21661398 eV

Energy required to vaporize 1 mol at boiling point

Heat of sublimation Literature
0.64714722 eV

Energy required to sublime 1 mol at sublimation point

Density

Reference density Literature
4930 kg/m³

At standard conditions

Current density Calculated
4930 kg/m³

At standard conditions

Advanced

Triple point Literature
113.6 °C
Critical point Literature
546 °C

Atomic Spectra

Showing 10 of 53 Atomic Spectra. Sorted by ion charge (ascending).

Lines Holdings ?

IonChargeTotal linesTransition probabilitiesLevel designations
I I 014324171432
I II +11260122
I III +27600
I IV +34700
I V +4400
NIST Lines Holdings →

Levels Holdings ?

IonChargeLevels
I I 0229
I II +1315
I III +2116
I IV +361
I V +454
I VI +540
I VII +625
I VIII +736
I IX +82
I X +92
NIST Levels Holdings →
53 I 126.90447

Iodine — Atomic Orbital Visualizer

[Kr]5s24d105p5
Energy levels 2 8 18 18 7
Oxidation states -1, +1, +2, +3, +4, +5, +6, +7
HOMO 5p n=5 · l=1 · m=-1
Iodine — Atomic Orbital Visualizer Preview
Three.js loads only on request
53 I 126.90447

Iodine — Crystal Structure Visualizer

Orthorhombic · Pearson N/A
Experimental
Pearson N/A
Iodine — Crystal Structure Visualizer Preview
Three.js loads only on request

Ionic Radii

ChargeCoordinationSpinRadius
-16N/A220.00000000000003 pm
+53N/A44 pm
+56N/A95 pm
+74N/A42 pm
+76N/A53 pm

Compounds

I-
126.904 u
I-
130.906 u
I-
122.906 u
I
126.904 u
I+
126.904 u
I-
124.905 u
I-
129.907 u
I-
123.906 u
I-
134.910 u
I-
128.905 u
I
124.905 u
I-
132.908 u
I-
120.907 u
I-
131.908 u
I-
121.908 u
I-
119.910 u
I-
125.906 u

Isotopes (1)

Thirty isotopes are recognized. Only one stable isotope, 127I is found in nature. The artificial radioisotope 131I, with a half-life of 8 days, has been used in treating the thyroid gland. The most common compounds are the iodides of sodium and potassium (KI) and the iodates (KIO3). Lack of iodine is the cause of goiter.

Mass numberAtomic mass (u)Natural abundanceHalf-lifeDecay mode
127 Stable126.9044719 ± 0.0000039100.0000%Stable
stable
127 Stable
Atomic mass (u) 126.9044719 ± 0.0000039
Natural abundance 100.0000%
Half-life Stable
Decay mode
stable

Spectral Lines

Showing 50 of 474 Spectral Lines. Only spectral lines with measured intensity are shown by default.

Wavelength (nm)IntensityIon stageTypeTransitionAccuracySource
511.92792 nm120000I Iemission5s2.5p4.(3P<2>).6s 2[2] → 5s2.5p4.(3P<2>).7p 2[1]*MeasuredNIST
740.20433 nm98000I Iemission5s2.5p4.(3P<2>).6p 2[3]* → 5s2.5p4.(3P<2>).7d 2[4]MeasuredNIST
661.96418 nm88000I Iemission5s2.5p4.(3P<2>).6p 2[3]* → 5s2.5p4.(3P<2>).8d 2[4]MeasuredNIST
746.89862 nm87000I Iemission5s2.5p4.(3P<2>).6p 2[3]* → 5s2.5p4.(3P<2>).7d 2[4]MeasuredNIST
723.78303 nm68000I Iemission5s2.5p4.(3P<2>).5d 2[3] → 5s2.5p4.(3P<2>).5f 2[4]*MeasuredNIST
714.20318 nm53000I Iemission5s2.5p4.(3P<2>).6p 2[2]* → 5s2.5p4.(3P<2>).7d 2[3]MeasuredNIST
658.3733 nm48000I Iemission5s2.5p4.(3P<2>).5d 2[3] → 5s2.5p4.(3P<2>).6f 2[4]*MeasuredNIST
633.78649 nm44000I Iemission5s2.5p4.(3P<2>).6p 2[2]* → 5s2.5p4.(3P<2>).8d 2[3]MeasuredNIST
619.1891 nm36000I Iemission5s2.5p4.(3P<2>).6p 2[3]* → 5s2.5p4.(3P<2>).9d 2[4]MeasuredNIST
712.20331 nm33000I Iemission5s2.5p4.(3P<2>).6p 2[2]* → 5s2.5p4.(3P<2>).7d 2[3]MeasuredNIST
514.55362 nm26000I Iemission5s2.5p4.(3P<1>).6s 2[1] → 5s2.5p4.(3P<1>).7p 2[1]*MeasuredNIST
741.0472 nm25000I Iemission5s2.5p4.(3P<2>).5d 2[4] → 5s2.5p4.(3P<2>).6f 2[5]*MeasuredNIST
656.64687 nm23000I Iemission5s2.5p4.(3P<2>).6p 2[3]* → 5s2.5p4.(3P<2>).8d 2[4]MeasuredNIST
633.94468 nm22000I Iemission5s2.5p4.(3P<2>).6p 2[2]* → 5s2.5p4.(3P<2>).8d 2[3]MeasuredNIST
722.72727 nm22000I Iemission5s2.5p4.(3P<2>).5d 2[3] → 5s2.5p4.(3P<2>).5f 2[3]*MeasuredNIST
716.47586 nm21000I Iemission5s2.5p4.(3P<2>).6p 2[2]* → 5s2.5p4.(3P<2>).7d 2[3]MeasuredNIST
698.6488 nm20000I Iemission5s2.5p4.(3P<2>).5d 2[4] → 5s2.5p4.(3P<2>).7f 2[5]*MeasuredNIST
621.3101 nm19000I Iemission5s2.5p4.(3P<2>).6p 2[3]* → 5s2.5p4.(3P<2>).9d 2[4]MeasuredNIST
608.24072 nm18000I Iemission5s2.5p4.(3P<2>).6s 2[2] → 5s2.5p4.(3P<1>).6p 2[2]*MeasuredNIST
624.4475 nm17000I Iemission5s2.5p4.(3P<2>).5d 2[3] → 5s2.5p4.(3P<2>).7f 2[4]*MeasuredNIST
631.31292 nm17000I Iemission5s2.5p4.(3P<2>).6p 2[2]* → 5s2.5p4.(3P<2>).8d 2[0]MeasuredNIST
589.39929 nm16000I Iemission5s2.5p4.(3P<2>).6s 2[2] → 5s2.5p4.(3P<1>).6p 2[1]*MeasuredNIST
666.20777 nm15000I Iemission5s2.5p4.(3P<2>).6p 2[3]* → 5s2.5p4.(3P<2>).8d 2[3]MeasuredNIST
712.0036 nm15000I Iemission5s2.5p4.(3P<2>).6p 2[2]* → 5s2.5p4.(3P<2>).7d 2[1]MeasuredNIST
666.10964 nm14000I Iemission5s2.5p4.(3P<2>).6p 2[2]* → 5s2.5p4.(3P<2>).9s 2[2]MeasuredNIST
741.64587 nm14000I Iemission5s2.5p4.(3P<2>).5d 2[1] → 5s2.5p4.(3P<2>).5f 2[2]*MeasuredNIST
595.6854 nm13000I Iemission5s2.5p4.(3P<2>).6p 2[2]* → 5s2.5p4.(3P<2>).9d 2[3]MeasuredNIST
598.4862 nm13000I Iemission5s2.5p4.(3P<2>).6p 2[2]* → 5s2.5p4.(3P<2>).9d 2[2]MeasuredNIST
637.16776 nm12000I Iemission5s2.5p4.(3P<2>).6p 2[2]* → 5s2.5p4.(3P<2>).8d 2[3]MeasuredNIST
486.23094 nm11000I Iemission5s2.5p4.(3P<2>).6s 2[2] → 5s2.5p4.(3P<2>).7p 2[3]*MeasuredNIST
491.69357 nm11000I Iemission5s2.5p4.(3P<2>).6s 2[2] → 5s2.5p4.(3P<2>).7p 2[2]*MeasuredNIST
520.41202 nm11000I Iemission5s2.5p4.(3P<2>).6s 2[2] → 5s2.5p4.(3P<2>).7p 2[1]*MeasuredNIST
629.39502 nm11000I Iemission5s2.5p4.(3P<2>).6s 2[2] → 5s2.5p4.(3P<0>).6p 2[1]*MeasuredNIST
633.0376 nm11000I Iemission5s2.5p4.(3P<2>).6p 2[2]* → 5s2.5p4.(3P<2>).8d 2[2]MeasuredNIST
523.45653 nm10000I Iemission5s2.5p4.(3P<2>).6s 2[2] → 5s2.5p4.(3P<2>).7p 2[3]*MeasuredNIST
533.82 nm10000I IIemission5s2.5p3.(2D*).6s 3D* → 5s2.5p3.(2D*).6p 3FMeasuredNIST
562.569 nm10000I IIemission5s2.5p3.(4S*).6s 3S* → 5s2.5p3.(4S*).6p 3PMeasuredNIST
707.78407 nm9700I Iemission5s2.5p4.(3P<2>).6p 2[2]* → 5s2.5p4.(3P<2>).7d 2[1]MeasuredNIST
598.4207 nm8900I Iemission5s2.5p4.(3P<2>).6p 2[2]* → 5s2.5p4.(3P<2>).9d 2[3]MeasuredNIST
742.00062 nm8300I Iemission5s2.5p4.(3P<2>).5d 2[4] → 5s2.5p4.(3P<2>).6f 2[4]*MeasuredNIST
596.8258 nm7900I Iemission5s2.5p4.(3P<2>).6p 2[3]* → 5s2.5p4.(3P<2>).10d 2[4]MeasuredNIST
698.97761 nm7800I Iemission5s2.5p4.(3P<2>).6p 2[3]* → 5s2.5p4.(3P<2>).9s 2[2]MeasuredNIST
658.05101 nm7600I Iemission5s2.5p4.(3P<2>).5d 2[3] → 5s2.5p4.(3P<2>).6f 2[3]*MeasuredNIST
673.20067 nm7600I Iemission5s2.5p4.(3P<2>).5d 2[1] → 5s2.5p4.(3P<2>).6f 2[3]*MeasuredNIST
595.4372 nm6700I Iemission5s2.5p4.(3P<2>).6p 2[2]* → 5s2.5p4.(3P<2>).9d 2[3]MeasuredNIST
741.1195 nm6700I Iemission5s2.5p4.(3P<2>).5d 2[1] → 5s2.5p4.(3P<2>).5f 2[3]*MeasuredNIST
656.08006 nm6600I Iemission5s2.5p4.(3P<2>).6p 2[3]* → 5s2.5p4.(3P<2>).8d 2[2]MeasuredNIST
723.49797 nm6600I Iemission5s2.5p4.(3P<2>).5d 2[3] → 5s2.5p4.(3P<2>).5f 2[4]*MeasuredNIST
633.35136 nm6300I Iemission5s2.5p4.(3P<2>).6p 2[2]* → 5s2.5p4.(3P<2>).8d 2[1]MeasuredNIST
723.17992 nm6200I Iemission5s2.5p4.(3P<2>).5d 2[3] → 5s2.5p4.(3P<2>).5f 2[3]*MeasuredNIST

Extended Properties

Covalent Radii (Extended)

Covalent radius (Pyykkö)  
Covalent radius (Pyykkö, double)  
Covalent radius (Pyykkö, triple)  
Covalent radius (Bragg)  

Van der Waals Radii

Bondi  
Batsanov  
Alvarez  
UFF  
MM3  
Dreiding  
Rowland–Taylor  

Atomic & Metallic Radii

Atomic radius (Rahm)  
Metallic radius (C12)  

Numbering Scales

Mendeleev
Pettifor
Glawe

Electronegativity Scales

Ghosh
Gunnarsson–Lundqvist
Robles–Bartolotti

Polarizability & Dispersion

Dipole polarizability  
Dipole polarizability (unc.)  
C₆  
C₆ (Gould–Bučko)  

Chemical Affinity

Proton affinity  
Gas basicity  

Supply Risk & Economics

Production concentration
Relative supply risk
Reserve distribution
Political stability (top producer)
Political stability (top reserve)

Phase Transitions & Allotropes

Melting point386.85 K
Boiling point457.55 K
Critical point (temperature)819.15 K
Triple point (temperature)386.75 K
Triple point (pressure)12.11 kPa

Oxidation State Categories

+1 main
+7 main
+3 main
+4 extended
+6 extended
+5 main
−1 main
+2 extended

Advanced Reference Data

Screening Constants (11)
nOrbitalσ
1s1.0609
2p4.1526
2s13.933
3d14.0993
3p18.1586
3s18.2126
4d32.066
4p28.9704
4s27.7028
5p41.3885
Crystal Radii Detail (5)
ChargeCNSpinrcrystal (pm)Origin
-1VI206Ahrens (1952) ionic radius,
5IIIPY58
5VI109
7IV56
7VI67
Isotope Decay Modes (82)
IsotopeModeIntensity
106A
107A
108A99.5%
108p0.5%
108B+
108B+p
109p100%
109A0%
110B+83%
110A17%
X‑ray Scattering Factors (508)
Energy (eV)f₁f₂
107.8167
10.16177.56781
10.32617.32685
10.49317.08081
10.66286.8332
10.83536.78435
11.01066.80888
11.18867.27334
11.36967.86775
11.55358.52786

Additional Data

Sources

Sources of this element.

Ultrapure iodine can be obtained from the reaction of potassium iodide with copper sulfate. Several other methods of isolating the element are known.

References (1)

Isotopes in Forensic Science and Anthropology

Information on the use of this element's isotopes in forensic science and anthropology.

131I (with a half-life of about 8 days) and 129I are both fission products; 129I is a long-lived fission product with a half-life of 1.7×107 years that can be helpful in the detection of the movement of radiation after a radioactive event, such as occurred at the Japanese reactors at Fukushima. In nuclear reactors and weapons tests, uranium and plutonium undergo fission processes in which one of the fission products is the long-lived isotope 129I. This isotope has been used as a groundwater tracer to determine evidence of nuclear fission, and it can also be tracked in rainwater as evidence of a fission event in the air (weapons explosion; Fig. IUPAC.53.1) [390] [390] D. Elmore, H. E. Gove, R. Ferraro, L. R. Kilius, H. W. Lee, K. H. Chang, R. P. Beukens, A. E. Litherland, C. J. Russo, K. H. Purser, M. T. Murrell, R. C. Finkel. Nature286, 138 (1980).[390] D. Elmore, H. E. Gove, R. Ferraro, L. R. Kilius, H. W. Lee, K. H. Chang, R. P. Beukens, A. E. Litherland, C. J. Russo, K. H. Purser, M. T. Murrell, R. C. Finkel. Nature286, 138 (1980)., [391] [391] G. Snyder, U. Fehn. Nucl. Instrum. Methods Phys. Res. B223, 579 (2004).[391] G. Snyder, U. Fehn. Nucl. Instrum. Methods Phys. Res. B223, 579 (2004)., [392] [392] G. Snyder, A. Aldahan, G. Possnert. Geochem. Geophys.11, Q04010 (2010).[392] G. Snyder, A. Aldahan, G. Possnert. Geochem. Geophys.11, Q04010 (2010)..

References (4)
  • [390] D. Elmore, H. E. Gove, R. Ferraro, L. R. Kilius, H. W. Lee, K. H. Chang, R. P. Beukens, A. E. Litherland, C. J. Russo, K. H. Purser, M. T. Murrell, R. C. Finkel. Nature286, 138 (1980).
  • [391] G. Snyder, U. Fehn. Nucl. Instrum. Methods Phys. Res. B223, 579 (2004).
  • [392] G. Snyder, A. Aldahan, G. Possnert. Geochem. Geophys.11, Q04010 (2010).
  • [4] IUPAC Periodic Table of the Elements and Isotopes (IPTEI) https://doi.org/10.1515/pac-2015-0703

References

(9)
2 Atomic Mass Data Center (AMDC), International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
I

The half-life and atomic mass data was provided by the Atomic Mass Data Center at the International Atomic Energy Agency.

3 IUPAC Commission on Isotopic Abundances and Atomic Weights (CIAAW)
Iodine

Element data are cited from the Atomic weights of the elements (an IUPAC Technical Report). The IUPAC periodic table of elements can be found at https://iupac.org/what-we-do/periodic-table-of-elements/. Additional information can be found within IUPAC publication doi:10.1515/pac-2015-0703 Copyright © 2020 International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry.

4 IUPAC Periodic Table of the Elements and Isotopes (IPTEI)

The information are cited from Pure Appl. Chem. 2018; 90(12): 1833-2092, https://doi.org/10.1515/pac-2015-0703.

License note: Copyright (c) 2020 International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry. The International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) contribution within Pubchem is provided under a CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 license, unless otherwise stated.
5 Jefferson Lab, U.S. Department of Energy
Iodine

Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility (Jefferson Lab) is one of 17 national laboratories funded by the U.S. Department of Energy. The lab's primary mission is to conduct basic research of the atom's nucleus using the lab's unique particle accelerator, known as the Continuous Electron Beam Accelerator Facility (CEBAF). For more information visit https://www.jlab.org/

License note: Please see citation and linking information: https://education.jlab.org/faq/index.html
6 Los Alamos National Laboratory, U.S. Department of Energy
Iodine

The periodic table at the LANL (Los Alamos National Laboratory) contains basic element information together with the history, source, properties, use, handling and more. The provenance data may be found from the link under the source name.

7 NIST Physical Measurement Laboratory
Iodine

The periodic table contains NIST's critically-evaluated data on atomic properties of the elements. The provenance data that include data for atomic spectroscopy, X-ray and gamma ray, radiation dosimetry, nuclear physics, and condensed matter physics may be found from the link under the source name. Ref: https://www.nist.gov/pml/atomic-spectra-database

8 PubChem Elements
Iodine

This section provides all form of data related to element Iodine.

9 PubChem Elements
Iodine

The element property data was retrieved from publications.

Last updated:

Data verified:

Content is reviewed against latest scientific data.