Characteristic

Iodic acid, HIO₃. It is a white water-soluble solid. Its robustness contrasts with the instability of chloric acid and bromic acid. Iodic acid features iodine in the oxidation state +5 and is one of the most stable oxo-acids of the halogens.

Chemical formula:HIO₃

Molar mass:175.91 g/mol

Appearance:White solid

Density:4.62 g/cm³, solid

Melting point:110 °C (230 °F; 383 K)

Solubility in water:269 g/100 mL (20 °C)

Acidity (pKa):0.75

Conjugate base Iodate

Magnetic susceptibility (χ):−48.0·10−6 cm³/mol

Application

Iodic acid is used in analytical chemistry laboratories to standardize solutions of both weak and strong bases using methyl red or methyl orange as the indicator. It acts as a key starting material to synthesize sodium or potassium iodate, thereby increasing the iodine content of salt.