As you probably noticed, when you dropped some iodine on the potato, the rice, and the bread, it went from orangey-yellow to dark blue or black. That’s how you know there’s starch in that food. Iodine indicates the presence of the chemical starch, which is why it’s called a chemical indicator.

The iodine is having a chemical reaction with the starch in the potato. When the iodine finds the long, straight chains of sugars in the starch, they attach to each other and get twisted. The result looks more like a spiral than a straight chain, and it results in the purple or blue color you’re seeing.

When iodine and starch are dissolved together in water, gooey starch molecules instantly trap iodine ions close together to create a dark, blueish-black color. (Dripping liquid iodine onto a potato will turn it the same color, due to all of the spud’s starch.)

Using iodine to test for the presence of starch is a common experiment. A solution of iodine (I2) and potassium iodide (KI) in water has a light orange-brown color. If it is added to a sample that contains starch, such as the bread pictured above, the color changes to a deep blue.

When few drops of iodine fall on starch substance, blue- black colour is observed. This is because of the formation of starch-iodine complex that gives blue colour. Thus, this property of Iodine is generally used to test the presence of starch.

Distinguishing glucose from starch Dispersal only happens in starch as the large starch molecules are big enough to affect the light. This is a physical test. A chemical test for starch is to add iodine solution (yellow/brown) and look for a colour change. In the presence of starch, iodine turns a blue/black colour.

Chemical Test for Starch or Iodine Iodine – KI Reagent: Iodine is not very soluble in water, therefore the iodine reagent is made by dissolving iodine in water in the presence of potassium iodide. Starch amylopectin does not give the color, nor does cellulose, nor do disaccharides such as sucrose in sugar.

Why is iodine called an indicator? It is called an indicator because after few minutes of diffusion, it changed the starch from white to a purple like color. The purple color indicates the presence of iodine.

black

Iodine is a non-metallic, dark-gray/purple-black, lustrous, solid element. Iodine is the most electropositive halogen and the least reactive of the halogens even if it can still form compounds with many elements. Iodine sublime easily on heating to give a purple vapour.

As a pure element, iodine is a lustrous purple-black nonmetal that is solid under standard conditions.

In the case of both reactions it is better to avoid low pH. Thiosulfate is unstable in the presence of acids, and iodides in low pH can be oxidized by air oxygen to iodine. Iodine is very weakly soluble in the water, and can be easily lost from the solution due to its volatility.

Virtually all minerals are unaffected by heat. Cooked or raw, food has the same amount of calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, iron, zinc, iodine, selenium, copper, manganese, chromium, and sodium.

What is Iodine? Iodine is a metal found throughout the environment in a stable form, iodine-127, and as unstable radioactive isotopes of iodine.

GOITER – Without adequate iodine, the thyroid progressively enlarges (develops a goiter) as it tries to keep up with demand for thyroid hormone production. Worldwide, iodine deficiency is the most common cause of thyroid enlargement and goiter (see goiter brochure).

What are the signs of iodine deficiency?

• fatigue.
• increased sensitivity to cold.
• constipation.
• dry skin.
• weight gain.
• puffy face.
• muscle weakness.
• elevated blood cholesterol levels.

It’s reasonable for those with unexplained fatigue, CFS or fibromyalgia to add an iodine supplement (6-12 mg) daily for three months to see if it helps. You’ll often see a marked increase in energy within the first month. How Do You Know Your Iodine Levels Are Low?

One of the most common results of low iodine is that your thyroid can’t make enough thyroid hormone, a condition called hypothyroidism. This might inflame the gland and cause a goiter, but not always. It could also thin your hair, dry your skin, and make you feel cold, tired, constipated, and depressed.

Adding more iodine to your diet may help reverse the effects of a slow metabolism, as it can help your body make more thyroid hormones. Low iodine levels may slow your metabolism and encourage food to be stored as fat, rather than be burned as energy. This may lead to weight gain.

For most people, one dose of radioactive iodine treatment will cure hyperthyroidism. Usually, thyroid hormone levels return to normal in 8 to 12 weeks. In rare cases, the person needs a second or third dose of radioactive iodine.

Radioactive iodine does not produce hair loss. Nevertheless, hair loss can be associated with changing levels of thyroid hormone, and may be experienced by some patients with hypo or hyperthyroidism.

Iodine: Yes. Avoid it as a supplement whether you have hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism. The effect of iodine supplements can vary by person, causing the thyroid to produce either too much or too little hormone.

Thorne Iodine and Tyrosine Its iodine supplement is designed to support thyroid health using a combination of 225 mcg of potassium iodide, or 150% of the RDI, and 500 mg of tyrosine — an amino acid your body uses to produce thyroid hormones ( 2 ).

Excess Iodine. For some people with abnormal thyroid glands, excessive iodine can trigger or worsen hypothyroidism. While initially, you may have more energy, high doses can cause an “iodine crash” that leaves you feeling exhausted and achy within a few days.

Using an iodine supplement, you can stimulate thyroid hormones and boost immune system function because of its anti-bacterial effects on the human body. With a properly working thyroid, many people experience weight loss naturally just by increasing their iodine intake.

Iodine is primarily lost through sweat, although some is also excreted in urine. Some studies suggest athletes may lose more iodine through sweat in an hour of vigorous exercise than through their entire daily urine output.

Iodine is a mineral found in some foods. The body needs iodine to make thyroid hormones. These hormones control the body’s metabolism and many other important functions. The body also needs thyroid hormones for proper bone and brain development during pregnancy and infancy.

Iodine: Iodine is a trace element that’s already present in food and it keeps your skin healthy and supports normal cognitive functions. Since iodine cannot be stored in your body, a regular consumption is required. Experts suggest taking iodine midday for a boost in energy.