Stable at high temperature under hydrogen atmosphere. However, it decomposes in air at normal or room temperature, releasing elemental iodine and turning brown. Also, when we heat it in air, it completely breaks down the magnesium oxide.
Another way to prepare ๐๐๐ผ2 is to mix powdered elemental iodine and metallic magnesium. Anhydrous magnesium iodide ๐๐๐ผ2 can be obtained, but this reaction needs to be carried out in a strictly anhydrous atmosphere, for which we can use dry ether as a solvent.
Properties of magnesium iodide
It appears as a white crystalline solid with no odor. The density of its different forms is: the density of anhydrous solid is 4.43๐/๐๐3, the density of hexahydrate solid is 2.353๐/๐๐3, and the density of octahydrate solid is 2.098๐/๐๐3.
Typically, we use it in internal medicine. Also, it has very little commercial use, but we can still use it to make synthetic organic compounds.
Health and Safety Hazards of Magnesium Iodide
Slightly hazardous if in contact with skin and cause eye irritation. Also, can cause irritation if ingested or inhaled. However, the substance is toxic to the thyroid because it contains iodine. Additionally, repeated and prolonged exposure to it can cause serious damage to organs.
Its ingestion can cause vomiting and difficulty breathing in some people. Prolonged eye contact can cause blindness. Although not flammable, it reacts with moisture to form magnesium hydroxide.
