Question

What are the evidences which support the existence of basic iodine?

Answer 1

1. Basic iodine is a brown-coloured compound formed when iodine reacts with alkalis like potassium hydroxide (KOH).
2. It is not a simple iodide or iodate but contains iodine in different oxidation states.
3. When iodine is treated with alkali, a mixture of potassium iodide (KI) and potassium iodate (KIO₃) forms.
4. The presence of both iodide and iodate ions indicates iodine exists in both +1 and −1 oxidation states in this compound.
5. The existence of basic iodine was first proposed to explain its chemical behaviour in alkaline solutions.