Lugol's iodine
Overview
Lugol's iodine, also known as Lugol's solution, first made in 1829, is a solution of elemental iodine
and potassium iodide
in water, named after the French
physician J.G.A. Lugol
. Lugol's iodine solution is often used as an antiseptic
and disinfectant, for emergency disinfection of drinking water, and as a reagent for starch detection
in routine laboratory and medical tests. These uses are possible since the solution is a source of effectively free elemental iodine, which is readily generated from the equilibration between elemental iodine molecules and triiodide
ion in the solution.
It has been used more rarely to replenish iodine deficiency.
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....
and potassium iodide
Potassium iodide
Potassium iodide is an inorganic compound with the chemical formula KI. This white salt is the most commercially significant iodide compound, with approximately 37,000 tons produced in 1985. It is less hygroscopic than sodium iodide, making it easier to work with...
in water, named after the French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
physician J.G.A. Lugol
Jean Guillaume Auguste Lugol
Jean Guillaume Auguste Lugol was a French physician.J.G.A. Lugol was born in Montauban. He studied medicine in Paris and graduated MD in 1812. In 1819 he was appointed acting physician at the Hôpital Saint-Louis a post he held until he retired...
. Lugol's iodine solution is often used as an antiseptic
Antiseptic
Antiseptics are antimicrobial substances that are applied to living tissue/skin to reduce the possibility of infection, sepsis, or putrefaction...
and disinfectant, for emergency disinfection of drinking water, and as a reagent for starch detection
Iodine test
The Iodine test is used to test for the presence of starch. Iodine solution — iodine dissolved in an aqueous solution of potassium iodide — reacts with the starch producing a purple black color. The colour can be detected visually with concentrations of iodine as low as 0.00002M at 20°C...
in routine laboratory and medical tests. These uses are possible since the solution is a source of effectively free elemental iodine, which is readily generated from the equilibration between elemental iodine molecules and triiodide
Triiodide
In chemistry, triiodide can have several meanings. Triiodide primarily refers to the triiodide ion, I3−, a polyatomic anion composed of three iodine atoms. For some chemical compounds, triiodide indicates a salt of the named cation with the triiodide anion. Examples include sodium triiodide, ...
ion in the solution.
It has been used more rarely to replenish iodine deficiency.
Unanswered Questions
