Making Hydroiodic Acid for Legal Reasons

In this video I demonstrate how to make hydroiodic acid from any iodide salt.
As I don't have any real use for this acid (and since its shelf life is so short) I decided to then use it to make the largest iodine crystal I've personally ever seen.

Note that hydroiodic acid is a regulated chemical due to its potential use in the further synthesis of controlled substances. Despite this, hydroiodic acid is completely legal to own and even for companies, reporting isn't required below 1.7kg.
Technically, hydroiodic acid is less closely monitored than even elemental iodine.

I will not respond to any questions regarding its use in this capacity, and I strongly advise against using any chemical to try any synthesize any controlled substance.

[RocketSurgn_]

“Mixture begins to yellow”… Yellow chemistry mentioned, somewhere a chill ran down the spine of a certain Australian chemistry-tuber!

[TechGorilla]

This video highlights a multitude of reasons that I ended up an electrician instead of a chemist.

[eatenkate]

Long rants on acids are miles better than long rants on acid

[ybcnnpq]

This reminds me of that situation when a new lab assistant in our local uni put elemental iodine onto analytic-grade balance, and, worse, went to find another reagent while the balance goes to equilibrium. As you might have already guessed, instead a few thousand dollar worth piece of equipment went into garbage bin. I tried to warn her, but I was a visiting kid, and why would anyone listen a kid, right?

[midwestchem]

The iodine purification under h2so4 is really a genius idea!

[peterteatree]

There’s a strong correlation between dietary iodine intake and cognitive function, there are a numbers of papers that confirm it have a look

[jaimeortega]

Nice job! I think back in the day, I used iodine, red phosphorus and in the 20% chance the reactants weren't reacting, a drop or two of hydrogen peroxide to kick it off. Worked every time! From what I recall this reaction produced copious amounts of HI.

[Samonie]

i like iodine as an element, but working with it is such a pain. it is such an annoying staining agent and the smell gets everywhere combine that with it being hazardous and a strong irritant makes for quite the bastard element

[andrews.]

I love this watchlist chemistry! I get a rush from watching Chemdelic and Prussian Blue for all their sketchy synthesis so this is right in my lane.

[LabCoatz_Science]

I knew HI couldn't be made from sulfuric acid, but I had no idea it could be made from phosphoric acid (like you, I never had a use for HI, so I never checked lol). Very nice synth, I wonder if there's an easy way to remove the iodine color from the acid...maybe sulfur dioxide or sulfite followed by redistillation under reduced pressure or argon? Idk, it probably doesn't matter a whole lot, especially since you just converted it all to iodine anyway!

[DanielGBenesScienceShows]

Beautiful video! I think a nearby metal shelf next to me rusted over just watching it! Haha!

[christopherleubner]

Another way to make very pure HI is to first make iodine from iodide then react the iodinr in water with H2S iin a N2 atmosphere in a flask with aggressive stirring. Sulfur coats the flask and very clean HI is created. It can be vacuum distilled yeilding a very pale yellow acid. It is best used immediately, but can be stored for months in a brown glass bottle under argon or nitrogen in a fridge. ❤

[nestor]

I love how you just put the condenser on the table after taking the flask out, leaving the excess acid to just carbonize it's way to Earth's core

[Drjtherrien]

I love the purified iodine crystals. They make it look like Iodine is just barely not a metalloid.

[andersjjensen]

Brother in Christ! The idea of melting iodine under sulfuric acid is a stroke of genius!

[spiderdude]

I found a very interesting potential route to hydroiodic acid that could potentially be more attainable for amateurs.

It can be formed as a byproduct of the hydrolysis of tin (IV) iodide, which itself is a very easy chemical to make, just reflux tin, iodine and chloroform. It forms very beautiful orange crystals. These decompose in water to yield hydroiodic acid. Just an idea I had that might work. Idk if the tin contamination is a problem, but I imagine you can distill it out.

[thatpyroguy]

bro gives me always more reasons on why he is my fav chemistry synthesis channel

[rashedusman]

I made HI starting from KI. I bubbled chlorine through the concentrated KI solution till all the iodine precipitated, decanted and washed the iodine, added water and bubbled hidrogen sulphide till all the iodine got consumed, filtered the sulphur out of the solution and boiled the solution till it fumed. The solution was clear but it slowly decomposed over time and formed a big iodine cristal in the brown solution.

[kennedy]

I really like your work young man. Thanks for sharing your experience and knowledge with me.😊

[TishaHayes]

I had never seen metallic iodine before. Thanks!