Characteristic

Periodic acid is the highest oxoacid of iodine, in which the iodine exists in oxidation state +7. Like all periodates it can exist in two forms: orthoperiodic acid, with the chemical formula H₅IO₆ and metaperiodic acid, which has the formula HIO₄.

Chemical formula:HIO₄ (metaperiodic);H₅IO₆ (orthoperiodic)

Molar mass:227.941 g/mol (H5IO6);190.91 g/mol (HIO4)

Appearance:Colourless crystals

Melting point:128.5 °C (263.3 °F; 401.6 K)

Solubility:soluble in water, alcohols

Conjugate base Periodate

Application

Periodic acid is used as a component for glycoprotein stains. It serves as a pharmaceutical and synthetic intermediate and is used in silk screen printing. It acts as an oxidizing agent especially the cleavage of 1,2 diols to prepare dialdehydes. It has selective oxidation powers which makes it an ideal reagent for the reclamation of silk screens in the printing industry. It finds application in life sciences for the analysis of intracellular polysaccharides like glycogen, starch and cellulose. Furthermore, it is used in the oxidation reactions converting sulfides into sulfones, catalyzed by chromium(VI) oxide and oxidation reactions converting alcohols to aldehydes and ketones.