This cache is the 13th in a series of 22 hides to be named after chemical elements and placed on Ramsey streets (and sometimes points North) with the same name. The series will speed up the qualification requirements for challenge cache GC2P5TJ, since some already published elements require traveling great distances. The closest cache named Iodine is located in Pennsylvania, 700 miles East.
History: Iodine was discovered by Barnard Courtois in 1811. He isolated iodine from treating seaweed ash with sulphuric acid (H2SO4) while recovering sodium and potassium compounds.
Sources: Iodine is never found in nature as the free element. Iodine minerals are very rare. Brines often contain a little iodide. Chilean nitrate deposits contain up to 0.3% calcium iodate. Some iodine is also extracted from seaweed.
Uses:
- iodide, and thyroxin which contains iodine, are used internally in medicine. A solution of KI and iodine in alcohol is used as a disinfectant for external wounds.
- silver iodide is used in photography
- nutrient
- added to table salt for nutrition {stops goitres, (Derbyshire neck)}
- deep blue colour in a starch solution is a sign of the free element