Potassium iodide by MP Biomedicals is a high grade reagent. This is an ionic compound formed from potassium and iodine. The reagent is available as a white solid which is very soluble in water, ethanol and freely soluble in glycerol. It can be stored at room temperature, however in a desiccated state. Since the iodide ion in this compound is a mild reducing agent, I is easily oxidised by powerful oxidising agents such as chlorine. Potassium iodide is industrially synthesised by treating KOH with iodine.

• Molecular Formula: KI
• Molecular Weight: 166
• Soluble in water

Potassium iodide is widely used in chemical and biological sectors. Potassium iodide is often used as a fluorescence quencher. The application of KI to facilitate the sorption of microbial proteins into dextran hydrogels from cell lysates has been studied. KI has been applied in the elucidation of the crystal structure of the S100-A3 apoprotein. The use of KI in the isolation of single stranded DNA has been described. A formulation of potassium iodide has been proposed as a topical treatment for sporotrichosis, but no trials have been conducted to determine the efficacy or side effects of such treatment.