Iodine pentoxide is the chemical compound

Chemical compound

A chemical compound is a pure chemical substance consisting of two or more different chemical elements that can be separated into simpler substances by chemical reactions. Chemical compounds have a unique and defined chemical structure; they consist of a fixed ratio of atoms that are held together...

 with the formula

Chemical formula

A chemical formula or molecular formula is a way of expressing information about the atoms that constitute a particular chemical compound....

 I₂O₅. This iodine oxide

Iodine oxide

Iodine oxides are chemical compounds of oxygen and iodine. There exist multiple oxides as iodine has more than one oxidation state.The iodine oxide free radical is a known ozone depletion agent. Atmospheric compounds containing iodine form iodine radicals which react with ozone to form iodine...

 is the anhydride of iodic acid

Iodic acid

Iodic acid, HIO3, can be obtained as a white solid. It dissolves in water very well, but it also exists in the pure state, as opposed to chloric acid or bromic acid. Iodic acid contains iodine in the oxidation state +5 and it is one of the most stable oxo-acids of the halogens in its pure state....

. It is produced by dehydrating iodic acid at 200 °C in a stream of dry air:

2HIO₃ → I₂O₅ + H₂O

Structure

I₂O₅ is bent with an I-O-I angle of 139.2°, but the molecule has no mirror plane so its symmetry

Molecular symmetry

Molecular symmetry in chemistry describes the symmetry present in molecules and the classification of molecules according to their symmetry. Molecular symmetry is a fundamental concept in chemistry, as it can predict or explain many of a molecule's chemical properties, such as its dipole moment...

 is not C_2v. The terminal I-O distances are around 1.80 Å and the bridging I-O distances are around 1.95 Å.

Reactions

Iodine pentoxide easily oxidises carbon monoxide

Carbon monoxide

Carbon monoxide , also called carbonous oxide, is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas that is slightly lighter than air. It is highly toxic to humans and animals in higher quantities, although it is also produced in normal animal metabolism in low quantities, and is thought to have some normal...

 to carbon dioxide

Carbon dioxide

Carbon dioxide is a naturally occurring chemical compound composed of two oxygen atoms covalently bonded to a single carbon atom...

 at room temperature:

5CO + I₂O₅ → I₂

Iodine

Iodine is a chemical element with the symbol I and atomic number 53. The name is pronounced , , or . The name is from the , meaning violet or purple, due to the color of elemental iodine vapor....

 + 5CO₂

This reaction can be used to analyse the concentration of CO in a gaseous sample.

I₂O₅ forms iodyl salts, [IO₂⁺], with SO₃

Sulfur trioxide

Sulfur trioxide is the chemical compound with the formula SO3. In the gaseous form, this species is a significant pollutant, being the primary agent in acid rain. It is prepared on massive scales as a precursor to sulfuric acid.-Structure and bonding:Gaseous SO3 is a trigonal planar molecule of...

 and S₂O₆F₂, but iodosyl salts, [IO⁺], with concentrated sulfuric acid

Sulfuric acid

Sulfuric acid is a strong mineral acid with the molecular formula . Its historical name is oil of vitriol. Pure sulfuric acid is a highly corrosive, colorless, viscous liquid. The salts of sulfuric acid are called sulfates...

.