What happens when you heat iodine?

When iodine is heated, it undergoes sublimation. This means that it changes directly from a solid to a gas, without passing through the liquid phase. This process occurs when the temperature of the iodine reaches its sublimation point, which is approximately 184 degrees Celsius (363 degrees Fahrenheit) at standard atmospheric pressure.

During sublimation, the iodine molecules gain enough kinetic energy to overcome the forces that hold them in a solid state and escape into the gas phase. The sublimed iodine molecules then disperse and spread throughout the surrounding area. The process of sublimation is reversible, meaning that the iodine gas can condense back into a solid state when the temperature is lowered.

It is worth noting that sublimation is not unique to iodine. Many other substances, such as dry ice (solid carbon dioxide), mothballs (naphthalene), and camphor, also sublime when heated. The sublimation point varies for different substances, depending on their molecular structure and intermolecular forces.