Kashmeer - 9-12-2016 at 01:37
Hi guys,
I noticed when I mix iodine tincture (iodine and potassium iodide in 90% ethanol) with some cream (main ingredients list parabens, petroleum jelly and
cetearyl alcohol) and zinc oxide, the cream goes from brown (tincture colour) to white after a few hours.
Any ideas where is the iodine escaping to?!
When tested for free iodine, the cream doesn't stain starchy material blue, so I am thinking iodine is not available any more?
aga - 9-12-2016 at 03:01
The iodine isn't escaping, it's just reacting with the 'cream'.
Depending on what ion is produced, it can even become completely colourless.
Tsjerk - 9-12-2016 at 03:15
My guess is that your iodine is reacting with unsaturated carbon species, so indeed the iodine is not available anymore and won't work anti-microbial
anymore.
This reaction is actually used to determine the amount of unsaturated bonds in a compound.
[Edited on 9-12-2016 by Tsjerk]
MrHomeScientist - 9-12-2016 at 07:22
Just like it's not a good idea to mix bleach and ammonia hoping to make "super cleaner", it's probably not a good idea to mix medicines to make "super
meds".