Iodine

Other names: iodine

Iodine, also known by its Latin name Iodine, is a chemical element that plays an important role in many aspects of human health and industry. It is found in the periodic table under the symbol I and atomic number 53. Discovered in 1811 by the Frenchman Bernard Courtois, this element is naturally present in seawater and some rocks.

Iodine is of wide importance in the world, both in medicine and in the food and chemical industries. In medicine, iodine is mainly used for diagnostic purposes and for the treatment of a number of diseases. For example, iodine preparations are part of the treatment of thyroid disease. Iodine is also essential for the proper production of thyroid hormones, which affects growth, brain development and the body's metabolism. In the food industry, iodine is often added to salt, which is a way for many countries to ensure adequate iodine intake for their populations. Other important iodine cultivators include the pharmaceutical and textile industries, where its disinfecting and dyeing abilities are exploited.