Potassium iodide
General Product Information
| Article | Potassium iodide |
| Synonyms | – |
| CAS No. | 7681-11-0 |
| EEG No. | – |
| EINECS No. | 231-659-4 |
| IMO | – |
| Tariff Code | 28276000 |
| UN No. | – |
| VLG/ADR | – |
Description
Potassium iodide is a white, crystalline salt that is highly soluble in water. It is an inorganic potassium salt of hydrogen iodide and is produced on an industrial scale. Potassium iodide has diverse applications in the pharmaceutical, chemical and food industries, as well as nuclear and analytical chemistry.
Characteristics
- Odor: Odorless.
- Hygroscopic: –
- Color: White to Colorless.
- Grade: Food.
- Solubility: Highly soluble in water.
- Taste: –
- Shape: Crystalline powder.
Physical & Chemical Properties
| Chemical Structure | KI |
| Molar Weight | 166.00 g/mol |
| Melting Point | Approx. 681 °C. |
| Boiling Point | > 1300 °C (decomposes) |
| Density | 3.13 g/cm³ |
| Refractive Index | – |
| pH | Approx. 7-9 (at 10% solution). |
Applications
Potassium iodide is applied in various ways, for instance:
1. Food Industry
It is added as an additive to table salt to prevent iodine deficiency in the diet.
2. Pharmaceutical Industry
Potassium iodide is used as a source of iodine for the thyroid gland. In emergencies (such as nuclear disasters), it is used to protect the thyroid gland from radioactive iodine.
3. Chemical Industry
Used as a reagent in analytical chemistry, at the production of silver iodide, dyes and other iodides.
Interessing Links
- Codex Alimentarius (FAO/WHO) – Guidelines and standards for food additives and ingredients.
- European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) – For chemical information and regulations.
- European Food Information Council (EFIC)
- European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) – Information on the safety and uses of food additives and ingredients.
- PubChem – Potassium Iodide – Chemical informatione by the National Library of Medicine of the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NIH-NCBI).
- Wikipedia – Potassium iodide