Sci-Spot.com - Iodine Crystals From Tincture

	THIS PROCEDURE WILL SHOW YOU HOW TO EXTRACT IODINE CRYSTALS FROM DRUGSTORE IODINE TINCTURE.

WARNINGS: THIS PROCEDURE CAN PRODUCE TOXIC FUMES. ALWAYS PERFORM THIS OUTSIDE. STRONG ACIDS ARE INVOLVED THAT CAN CAUSE BURNS OR OTHER INJURIES. ALWAYS WEAR SAFETY GOGGLES. LAST BUT NOT LEAST, IODINE STAINS LIKE NOTHING ELSE. I DROPPED SOME CRYSTALS ON MY CARPET AND 4 YEARS LATER THE STAINS KEEP COMING BACK. DO NOT MESS UP.
DESCRIPTION IODINE TINCTURE IS AN ALCOHOL BASED SOLUTION OF IODINE SALTS. IT IS COMMONLY SOLD IN DRUGSTORES AS A OLD TOPICAL ANTISEPTIC. AT TIMES, IT IS USEFUL TO HAVE CRYSTALLIZED IODINE, OR I₂. I₂CAN BE FOUND IN NUMEROUS PRODUCTS, HOWEVER EXTRACTION IS USUALLY DIFFICULT OR EXPENSIVE. PURE I₂ CAN BE USED TO DISINFECT SUSPICIOUS DRINKING WATER. IT ALSO HAS USES IN EXPLOSIVES. THIS SIMPLE PROCEDURE WILL CONVERT THE SALTS IN TINCTURE TO I₂ WHICH WILL FALL OUT OF SOLUTION AS FINE PURPLE CRYSTALS.
MATERIALS	-30% HYDROCHLORIC ACID - "MURIATIC ACID" IN HARDWARE STORES -BLEACH -TINCTURE OF IODINE -COFFEE FILTERS
EQUIPMENT	-MISC. GLASSWARE

PROCEDURE		WHY?
1. FIND SOME TINCTURE OF IODINE. IT COMES IN SMALL BOTTLES AND IS SOMEWHAT EXPENSIVE. YOU MAY HAVE TO SEARCH HARD BECAUSE ITS SOMEWHAT OBSOLETE NOW. DO NOT USE POVIDONE IODINE.		POVIDONE IODINE HAS A CHEMICAL ADDED TO PREVENT STINGING WHEN USED AS AN ANTISEPTIC. FOR WHATEVER REASON, POVIDONE IODINE IS CHEAPER AND AVAILABLE IN LARGER QUANTITIES, BUT I'M TOLD IT WILL NOT WORK.
2. POUR A FEW BOTTLES INTO A FLASK.		USE MORE THAN ONE BOTTLE AT A TIME. THE REASON IS THAT YOU'LL LOSE A FRACTION OF THE IODINE IN VARIOUS WAYS, AND IF YOU USE A SINGLE BOTTLE THERE WILL BE TOO LITTLE IODINE LEFT TO RETRIEVE SUCCESSFULLY.
3. ADD AN EQUAL VOLUME OF WATER TO THE IODINE. THEN ADD ABOUT ~5ML OF HYDROCHLORIC ACID PER BOTTLE OF IODINE. STIR. THEN ADD ~10ML OF BLEACH PER BOTTLE OF IODINE. STIR. BEWARE FUMES. YOU SHOULD SEE THIS:		THE ACID HELPS CONVERT THE IODINE SALTS (KI, NaI) TO THE DESIRED FORM. NOTE, EXCESS REAGENTS IS USUALLY NOT A PROBLEM.
4. PREPARE TO FILTER BY PUTTING TWO COFFEE FILTERS OVER THE MOUTH OF A BEAKER.		BE SURE TO USE TWO OR MORE FILTERS. THE ACIDS WILL ATTACK THE PAPER, AND ALONG WITH MOISTURE, CAN BREAK THE FILTER.
5. DILUTE AND FILTER THE SOLUTION. YOU NOW HAVE I₂.

TIPS

DON'T TRY TO STORE I₂IN A PLASTIC BAG, AS THE CRYSTALS SLOWLY TURN TO GAS AND WILL LEAK THROUGH THE PLASTIC.
DON'T LET THE CRYSTALS SIT OUT TOO LONG; THEY SUBLIMATE RAPIDLY AND YOU'LL LOSE MUCH OF THEM.
DON'T DROP ANY ON YOUR CARPET BECAUSE THE STAINS WILL COME BACK FOR YEARS NO MATTER HOW GOOD YOU CLEAN THEM AND YOUR MOM WILL KILL YOU.

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