Sodium iodide facts for kids
Sodium iodide is a special chemical substance. It's made from two parts: sodium and iodide. Its short name, or chemical formula, is NaI. This chemical looks like a white, crystal-like solid. If it touches air, it can turn yellowish-brown. This happens because a part of it, called iodide, changes into something else called iodine. Sodium iodide is important because it helps give our bodies the iodine we need.
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What is Sodium Iodide?
Sodium iodide is a chemical compound, which means it's a substance formed when two or more different chemical elements join together. In this case, it's made from the element sodium and a part of iodine called iodide. You can think of it like building blocks; sodium and iodide are the blocks that make up sodium iodide.
What Does it Look Like?
Sodium iodide is usually a white solid. It looks like tiny crystals. But if you leave it out in the air, it can start to change color. It might turn a little yellow or brown. This color change happens because the iodide in it reacts with the oxygen in the air. This reaction turns some of the iodide into iodine, which has a different color.
How is it Used?
One of the most important uses of sodium iodide is to help people get enough iodine. Iodine is a nutrient our bodies need to stay healthy. It's especially important for our thyroid gland, which helps control how our bodies grow and use energy. Sodium iodide can be added to things like table salt to make sure people get enough iodine in their diet. This helps prevent health problems caused by not having enough iodine.
Related Pages
Images for kids
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Monatomic NaI chains grown inside double-wall carbon nanotubes.
See also
In Spanish: Yoduro de sodio para niños
