Things You'll Need:
- Tincture of iodine (available at pharmacies) or iodine tablets (from camping stores).
- Paper
- Water
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Step 1
If the iodine that you obtained from the store was in tablet form, follow the directions to add it to water as the instructions direct. If you got the tincture of iodine, it can be diluted to suit your needs. A 10:1 dilution ratio of the tincture of iodine works fine.
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Step 2
Test the iodine that you got in the store by putting a few drops (diluted) on a piece of paper. The starch in the paper should turn blue or black when its come into contact with the reddish-brown iodine. The color is a sign that shows a polymeric starch is present as it reacts with the iodine. The altered chemical bonding reacts differently with the light, changing the color.
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Step 3
Use the iodine tablets (the camping type) when you are out on a camping trip. You will notice that any pasta that you prepare in the treated water will turn water blue/purple/black. It is fun to eat the blue pasta and to show to children or friends. Do not to use the iodine intended for wounds in your food, since it is not for oral ingestion.
