Everything Everywhere Daily: History, Science, Geography, & More · Gary Arndt
The Element Iodine: Its Discovery, Health Benefits, and Why It’s in Salt
March 30, 2026·17 min·1 clip
In 1811, Bernard Courtois accidentally created violet vapor while cleaning copper vats, leading to the discovery of iodine.
As heard by us
A small element with outsized effects in health, disinfection, and modern electronics.
Iodine gets a clean, readable treatment here. The episode traces its accidental discovery, then explains why such a small amount matters so much before moving into medicine, disinfection, water purification, and the making of modern electronic devices.
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You'll trace iodine from an accidental discovery to medicine, disinfectant use, and modern electronics.
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