The iodine test is based on the interaction of Amylose with starch to generate a blue-black coloured complex with the iodine. Amylose’s helical structure creates a charge transfer (CT) complex with iodine, which is found inside Amylose’s spiral or helical structure.
Iodine in water, i.e., an aqueous solution of molecular iodine (I) and potassium iodide (KI), also known as Lugol’s iodine, is used for this test. It’s worth noting that this is also referred to as the IKI solution.
I + KI = IKI Solution
Iodine molecule, also known as molecular iodine or I2, is insoluble in water. As a result, potassium iodide is utilised in the preparation of the laboratory reagent. Iodide ions are formed when potassium iodide dissociates.
In solution, iodide ions combine to generate triiodide ions (I3–), which then associate to make polyiodide ions (In–). The formation of In– ions is largely due to I3– chemistry.
Negatively charged polyiodide ions include triiodide (I3–), pentaiodide (I5–), and heptaiodide (I7–). Charge donors, these polyiodide ions form a combination with Amylose. Lugol’s iodine solution on the bench is brown in colour.
However, electrons absorb light energy and are stimulated to a higher energy level in the charge transfer complex of polyiodide ions and Amylose. The human eye perceives the complementary hue to the light energy absorbed by the charge transfer complex as a blue-black colour.
As a result, the iodine colour on the benchtop is brown. Colorless polyiodides (I3–, I5–, and I7–) and a blue-black amylose-iodide complex Because the Iodine starch reaction is unique, it is used to detect starch in a sample.
As a result, an IKI indicator can be used to certify the presence of starch. The iodine starch test’s premise is also the foundation for all iodometric titrations that use the starch indicator.
The intensity of the blue colour reduces as the temperature rises when water-miscible solvents such as isopropyl alcohol, ethanol, and others are present. Because the amylose-iodine combination dissociates when the temperature rises, this is the case.
The helical structure of the amylose-iodine complex is reconstructed when the temperature decreases, resulting in the regeneration of the blue-black colour complex