What does iodate mean?
An iodate is a chemical compound containing the iodate ion, IO₃⁻, in which iodine has an oxidation state of +5. Familiar examples include potassium iodate and sodium iodate, which can be added to table salt to supply iodine. The word also has a rare verb sense meaning to impregnate a substance with iodine. In technical contexts, iodate should not be confused with iodide: an iodide contains iodine in the -1 oxidation state, whereas an iodate contains much more highly oxidized iodine. The distinction is chemically important in analyses of water, soil, salt, and biological materials. Although the vocabulary is specialized, iodate appears in discussions of public health, food fortification, and environmental contamination, making it useful whenever the form and oxidation state of iodine need to be identified precisely.
A salt or anion derived from iodic acid, containing iodine in the +5 oxidation state.
"The test detected a high concentration of iodate in the groundwater."
This is primarily a technical chemical term.
To impregnate a substance with iodine.
"The photographer iodated the paper before developing the image."
The verb is uncommon today and occurs chiefly in specialist or historical usage.
The plural is used when referring to multiple iodate compounds or iodate ions.
"The researchers screened the samples for several common iodates."
In an iodate, iodine carries a +5 charge; flip iodine into an iodide and it becomes -1, a striking change in chemical identity.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does iodate come from?
The word is formed from the name of the element iodine and the suffix -ate, a standard chemical suffix used for anions and salts derived from an acid. Iodate ultimately belongs to the same etymological family as iodine, iodic, and iodinate. The chemical sense developed from iodine's combination with oxygen to form iodic acid and its salts.
Related word forms
How iodate is actually used
The noun is chiefly technical and is normally used in chemistry, medicine, and environmental science. The verb is rare and may sound old-fashioned outside specialist or historical contexts.
Easily confused with iodate
An iodate contains iodine in the +5 oxidation state, whereas an iodide contains iodine in the -1 oxidation state.