Iodomethane

 

Iodomethane

Chemical formula	CH3I
OTP appearance	colorless liquid
Molar Mass(g/mol)	141.94
Density(g/cc)	2.28
Melting Point(°C)	-66.5
Boiling Point(°C)	42.4
Solubility in water(g/L)	14
NFPA 704	1 3 1

Uses

Justification Questioned

Natural occurrence

• Does occur naturally in very small amounts as a secondary metabolite in rice

Production

Synthesis

• Combine methanol with phosphorus and iodine, with the intermediate production of phosphorus triiodide

  P₄ + 6 I₂

  {CH₃OH

  →

  }

  4 PI₃

  3 CH₃OH + PI₃ → 3 CH₃I + H₂PO₃H

• Combine methanol with hydroiodic acid

  CH₃OH + HI → CH₃I + H₂O

Purification

Iodine contamination can be removed by washing with sodium thiosulfate to remove iodine followed by distillation.