How to Make a Black Iodine Tincture

Black iodine tincture is commonly used to disinfect questionable drinking water and clean out minor injuries, such as scrapes and small cuts. This makes it a valuable item to take along on camping trips or long hikes. You can buy black iodine tincture at most pharmacies and grocery stores, but if you know how to make your own, you'll end up better prepared in emergency situations.

Things You'll Need

• 95 % ethyl alcohol
• Elemental iodine
• Potassium iodide
• Distilled water
• Gloves
• Face mask
• Safety goggles
• 2 liter bottle
• Food scale
• Stainless steel spoon
• Stirring stick
• 2000 ml plastic beaker
• 1000 ml plastic beaker
• 2 100 ml plastic beakers

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Instructions

• 1

  Put on your face mask, safety goggles, and gloves. Make sure to pinch the part of the mask that sits on the top of your nose. This will help seal the mask around your nose and mouth, preventing you from accidentally inhaling the vapors.

• 2

  Put a 1000 ml plastic beaker on a digital food scale. Zero out the food scale. Slowly pour 95 percent ethyl alcohol into the glass beaker until the scale reads 900 g. Take the beaker off of the food scale.

• 3

  Place a 100 ml plastic beaker on the food scale. Zero out the scale. Use a stainless steel spoon to scoop elemental iodine into the glass beaker until the scale reads 40 g.

• 4

  Use the spoon to transfer the iodine into the ethyl alcohol filled beaker. Stir the mixture until the iodine is completely dissolved.

• 5

  Put a 2000 ml plastic beaker on the scale. Zero out the scale. Pour distilled water into the beaker until the scale reads 1000 g.

• 6

  Pour the distilled water from the beaker into a 2 liter bottle. Slowly pour 1/3 of the iodine-alcohol mixture into the same 2 liter bottle. Swirl the bottle around for 15 seconds. Repeat this process twice more.

• 7

  Put a 100 ml plastic beaker on the food scale. Zero out the scale. Scoop potassium iodide into the beaker until the scale reads 60 g.

• 8

  Transfer the potassium iodide into the 2 liter bottle. Stir the mixture with a stirring stick until the potassium has dissolved.