Adjacent Words

iodine definitions

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WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: a nonmetallic element belonging to the halogens; used especially in medicine and photography and in dyes; occurs naturally only in combination in small quantities (as in sea water or rocks) [syn: iodine, iodin, I, atomic number 53]
2: a tincture consisting of a solution of iodine in ethyl alcohol; applied topically to wounds as an antiseptic [syn: tincture of iodine, iodine]

Merriam Webster's

noun Usage: often attributive Etymology: French iode, from Greek ioeid?s violet colored, from ion violet Date: 1814 1. a nonmetallic halogen element obtained usually as heavy shining blackish-gray crystals and used especially in medicine, photography, and analysis — see element table 2. a tincture of iodine used especially as a topical antiseptic

Britannica Concise

Nonmetallic chemical element, chemical symbol I, atomic number 53. The heaviest nonradioactive halogen, it is a nearly black crystalline solid (diatomic molecule I2) that sublimes (see sublimation) to a deep violet, irritating vapor. It is never found in nature uncombined. Its sources (mostly in brines and seaweeds) and compounds are usually iodides; iodates (small amounts in saltpeter) and periodates also occur. Dietary iodine is essential for thyroid gland function, so table salt usually has potassium iodide (chemical formula KI) added to prevent iodine deficiency. Elemental iodine is used in medicine, in synthesizing some organic chemicals, in manufacturing dyes, in analytical chemistry (see analysis) to measure fat saturation (see hydrogenation) and to detect starch, and in photography. The radioactive isotope I-131 (see radioactivity), with an eight-day half-life, is very useful in medicine (see nuclear medicine, thyroid function test) and other applications.

Dictionary of the Elements

iodine
Symbol: I
Atomic number: 53
Atomic weight: 126.904
Dark violet nonmetallic element, belongs to group 17 of the periodic table. Insoluble in water. Required as a trace element for living organisms. One stable isotope, I-127 exists, in addition to fourteen radioactive isotopes. Chemically the least reactive of the halogens, and the most electropositive metallic halogen. Discovered in 1812 by Courtois.

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. 1 Chem. a non-metallic element of the halogen group, forming black crystals and a violet vapour, used in medicine and photography, and important as an essential element for living organisms. Usage: Symb.: I. 2 a solution of this in alcohol used as a mild antiseptic. Etymology: F iode f. Gk iodes violet-like f. ion violet + -INE(4)

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Iodine I"o*dine (?; 104), n. [Gr. ? violetlike; ? a violet + ? form: cf. F. iode, iodine. The name was given from the violet color of its vapor. See Violet, Idyl.] (Chem.) A nonmetallic element, of the halogen group, occurring always in combination, as in the iodides. When isolated it is in the form of dark gray metallic scales, resembling plumbago, soft but brittle, and emitting a chlorinelike odor. Symbol I. Atomic weight 126.5. If heated, iodine volatilizes in beautiful violet vapors. Note: Iodine was formerly obtained from the ashes of seaweed (kelp or varec), but is now also extracted from certain natural brines. In the free state, iodine, even in very minute quantities, colors starch blue. Iodine and its compounds are largely used in medicine (as in liniments, antisyphilitics, etc.), in photography, in the preparation of aniline dyes, and as an indicator in titration. Iodine green, an artificial green dyestuff, consisting of an iodine derivative of rosaniline; -- called also night green. Iodine scarlet, a pigment of an intense scarlet color, consisting of mercuric iodide. Iodine yellow, a brilliant yellow pigment, consisting of plumbic iodide.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

Iodine is a dark-coloured substance used in medicine and photography.

Moby Thesaurus

Argyrol, Mercurochrome, Merthiolate, Salol, alcohol, boric acid, calomel, camphor, carbolic acid, chloramine, cresol, gentian violet, gramicidin, hexachloraphene, hydrogen peroxide, peroxide, phenol, phenyl salicylate, resorcinol, silver vitellin, thimerosal, thymol, tincture of iodine