Iodine Crystal Structure: Properties & Orthorhombic Form

Iodine is a chemical element that is commonly used as an antiseptic. In the body, iodine is required in trace amounts to create thyroid hormones which are important for metabolism.

General Properties

• Iodine is a halogen. It contains 53 protons and electrons and 74 neutrons.

Crystal Structure

• The crystal structure of iodine is orthorhombic. In an orthorhombic structure, the length, width and height are not equal.

Orthorhombic Structure

• An example of an orthorhombic structure would be a paper lunch bag. The bottom of the bag is rectangular and the height of the bag is not equal to the width or length of the bottom.

Symmetry

• There is symmetry in the iodine crystal between the rows and columns of the structure.

Space

• In solid iodine, there is not any space between the components of the crystal.