demonstrations:sublimation_of_iodine

Sublimation of Iodine

Materials: ★★☆ Available in most school laboratories or specialist stores
Difficulty: ★★☆ Can be done by science teachers
Safety: ★★☆ Some safety precautions required to perform safely

Categories: Particles and States of Matter

Alternative titles: Solid to Vapor Transition of Iodine

Summary

Elemental iodine can be heated to show sublimation, where it changes directly from a solid to a purple vapor and then recrystallizes on a cooled surface without passing through a liquid phase.

Procedure

  1. Place about 2 g of iodine crystals into a 500 ml Erlenmeyer flask.
  2. Cover the mouth of the flask with a watch glass that has ice placed on top.
  3. Slowly heat the flask on a hot plate.
  4. Observe as purple iodine vapor forms and deposits solid iodine crystals on the underside of the watch glass.

Chemistry experiment 47 - Sublimation of Iodine - koen2all:


📄 The Sublimation of Iodine - lsa.umich: https://lsa.umich.edu/content/dam/chem-assets/chem-docs/teaching%20lab%20docs/Sublimation%20of%20Iodine.pdf

Variations

  • Use a test tube instead of a flask for a smaller-scale demonstration.
  • Capture time-lapse images to show the sublimation and deposition process.
  • Compare sublimation with substances that melt before vaporizing, highlighting differences in phase changes.

Safety Precautions

  • Wear safety goggles, gloves, and a lab coat.
  • Iodine vapors are toxic and irritating; perform the demonstration in a fume hood.
  • Avoid skin contact with iodine crystals.
  • Dispose of iodine-containing waste according to hazardous chemical waste guidelines.

Questions to Consider

  • What type of phase change does iodine undergo in this experiment? (Sublimation, solid to gas.)
  • Why do iodine crystals form on the cooled watch glass? (The vapor condenses and deposits as solid iodine upon cooling.)
  • How does sublimation differ from melting and boiling? (Sublimation skips the liquid phase, going directly from solid to gas.)
  • Can you name other substances that undergo sublimation under standard conditions? (Dry ice, naphthalene.)