Iodoform Chemical Properties

Melting point:

119 °C

Boiling point:

218°C

Density 

4.008 g/mL at 25 °C(lit.)

refractive index 

1.4975 (estimate)

storage temp. 

-20°C

solubility 

chloroform: soluble5%

form 

Crystalline Powder

color 

Bright yellow to dark yellow

Odor

char. pungent odor

Water Solubility 

Insoluble. <0.1 g/100 mL at 24 ºC

Sensitive 

Light Sensitive

Merck 

14,5033

BRN 

1697010

Exposure limits

ACGIH: TWA 0.6 ppm
NIOSH: TWA 0.6 ppm(10 mg/m3)

Stability:

Stable. Incompatible with strong oxidizing agents, reducing agents. May explode when heated.

LogP

3.510 (est)

CAS DataBase Reference

75-47-8(CAS DataBase Reference)

NIST Chemistry Reference

Methane, triiodo-(75-47-8)

EPA Substance Registry System

Iodoform (75-47-8)

Safety Information

Hazard Codes 

Xn

Risk Statements 

20/21/22-36/37/38

Safety Statements 

26-36/37-36/37/39-22-24/25

RIDADR 

UN 1851

OEB

B

OEL

TWA: 0.6 ppm (10 mg/m3)

WGK Germany 

3

RTECS 

PB7000000

F 

13

TSCA 

Yes

HS Code 

29033990

Hazardous Substances Data

75-47-8(Hazardous Substances Data)

Toxicity

LD50 s.c. in mice: 1.6 mmoles/kg (Kutob, Plaa)

MSDS

• Language:English Provider:SigmaAldrich
• Language:English Provider:ACROS
• Language:English Provider:ALFA

Iodoform Usage And Synthesis

Description

Iodoform is a stable, pale yellow crystalline solid. It is volatile with a characteristic pungent, unpleasant and penetrating odour, but with a sweetish taste. It is incompatible with strong oxidising agents, reducing agents, lithium, and metallic salts such as mercuric oxide, silver nitrate, strong bases, calomel, and tannin. Reports indicate that earlier iodoform was in use as a disinfectant and as an antiseptic or dressing and healing of wounds and sores for pets. Iodoform is the active ingredient in many antiseptic or dressing powders used for dogs and cats to prevent infection.

Chemical Properties

yellow solid with a characteristic pungent and

Chemical Properties

Iodoform is a yellow or greenish-yellow powder or crystalline solid that is volatile with steam and contains 96.69% iodine. It has a very characteristic pungent odor. An odor threshold of 0.005 ppm has been reported.

Uses

Iodoform has limited use as a chemical intermediate and for medicinal purposes as disinfectant and antiseptic and has been used in veterinary medicine.

Uses

Triiodomethane is a crystalline compound commonly used as a disinfectant. It can be used in the process of removing heavy metals such as mercury from fuids.

Uses

It is used as a topical anti-infective, applied to the skin.

Definition

A yellow crystalline compound made by warming ethanal with an alkaline solution of an iodide:
CH₃CHO + 3I^– + 4OH^– → CHI₃ +
HCOO^– + 3H₂O
The reaction also occurs with all ketones of general formula CH₃COR (R is an alkyl group) and with secondary alcohols CH₃CH(OH)R. Iodoform is used as a test for such reactions (the iodoform reaction).

General Description

Bright yellow or yellow powder or crystals. Penetrating odor. Unctuous touch. Odor threshold 0.4 ppb.

Air & Water Reactions

Insoluble in water.

Reactivity Profile

Iodoform decomposes at high temperatures. Decomposes slowly in light at room temperature. Reacts violently with lithium. Is incompatible with mercuric oxide, calomel, silver nitrate, tannin, and balsam Peru. Is also incompatible with strong bases, strong oxidizing agents and magnesium. Vigorous reactions occur with acetone in the presence of solid potassium hydroxide or calcium hydroxide, hexamethylenetetramine at 352° F, mercury(I) fluoride and finely divided reduced silver.

Hazard

Irritant. Decomposes violently at 400F (204C).

Health Hazard

Iodoform causes central nervous system depression and damage to the kidneys, liver, and heart.

Fire Hazard

Literature sources indicate that Iodoform is nonflammable.

Biochem/physiol Actions

Iodoform is an iodine containing compound, which is used in antiseptic applications in the medical and veterinary medicine fields. Iodoform improves fermentation in the biomass ensilage conversion system by improving lactic acid production and inhibiting butyric fermentation.

Carcinogenicity

Iodoform has been included in the NCI daily bioassay program. According to their summary: the high and low time-weighted average daily dosages of iodoform were, respectively, 142 and 71 mg/kg for male rats, 55 and 27 mg/kg for female rats, and 93 and 47 mg/kg for male and female mice. A significant positive association between dosage and mortality was observed in male rats but not in female rats or in mice of either sex. Adequate numbers of animals in all groups survived sufficiently long to be at risk from late-developing tumors. No statistical significance could be attributed to the incidences of any neoplasms in rats or mice of either sex when compared to their respective controls. Under the conditions of this bioassay, no convincing evidence was provided for the carcinogenicity of iodoform in Osborne–Mendel rats or B6C3F1 mice.

Purification Methods

Crystallise it from MeOH, EtOH or EtOH/EtOAc. It is steam volatile. It is a disinfectant. [Beilstein 1 IV 97.]

Iodoform(75-47-8)Related Product Information

• Iodomethane
• Iodotrimethylsilane
• CARBON TETRAIODIDE
• TRIIODOACETIC ACID
• Isobutyronitrile
• IODOFORM-D 99 ATOM % D,IODOFORM-D
• Methyl iodoform
• PROTEOGEL IPG STRIP 7 CM PH 6-11
• PROTEOGEL IPG STRIP 18 CM PH 3-5
• PROTEOGEL IPG STRIP 18 CM PH 8-11
• PROTEOGEL IPG STRIP 11 CM PH 3-10
• PROTEOGEL IPG STRIP 11 CM PH 3-5
• PROTEOGEL IPG STRIP 18 CM PH 6-11
• PROTEOGEL IPG STRIP 7 CM PH 3-5
• Iodoform
• PROTEOGEL IPG STRIP 11 CM PH 8-11
• PROTEOGEL IPG STRIP 18 CM PH 4-7
• PROTEOGEL IPG STRIP 18 CM PH 5-8