Betadine and iodine are completely different substances from each other. They have different chemical compositions.
Betadine is a compound consists of povidone and iodine. Both of these compounds have different commercial value and uniqueness.
Key Takeaways
- Betadine and Iodine are both antiseptics used to disinfect wounds.
- Iodine is a chemical element, while Betadine is a brand-name product that contains Iodine.
- Betadine is less irritating to the skin and less likely to cause an allergic reaction than pure Iodine.
Betadine vs Iodine
The difference between betadine and iodine is that betadine is chemically manufactured. It consists of povidone and iodine. Iodine on the other hand is very rarely naturally found. It is also found in certain species of plants such as cob and tuna.
Want to save this article for later? Click the heart in the bottom right corner to save to your own articles box!
Betadine is a brown color compound. It is composed of povidone and iodine.
The amount of iodine present varies from 9 to 12%. It is used as an antiseptic to treat wounds.
It is also used before and after surgeries. Iodine on the other hand is a chemical element.
Its atomic number is 53. The deficiency of iodine in one’s body leads to scurvy. Deficiency of iodine in the body will result in decreased production of thyroxin and triiodothyronine within the body resulting in enlargement of thyroid glands.
Comparison Table
| Parameter of Comparison | Betadine | Iodine |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Substance contains both povidone and iodine | Chemical element |
| Molecular Formula | C6H9I2NO | I2 |
| Use | Antiseptic or cleaning agent | Monitoring thyroid levels |
| Availability | It is chemically manufactured. Can be found at the chemist | Rare in nature. |
| Toxicity | Minimum toxicity | Can release hazardous toxic vapors at room temperature |
What is Betadine?
Betadine is the brand’s name of the original product that is usually a brown colored substance. It consists of povidone and iodine.
It is a type of anti-septic that is used to clear molds and also disinfects them. It is also used before applying the dressing.
It also disinfects the skin before and after surgeries. It can be used for both major and minor wounds.
Betadine is either applied over the skin in powder or liquid form. Povidone (polyvinylpyrrolidone) is a polymer that is bounded with iodine, which is present in the substance.
It is usually present at an amount of 9-12% in the solution. The molecular formula of povidone-iodine is C6H9I2NO along with a molecular weight of 364.953 g/mol.
It is a kind of synthetic substance that was created by a combination of different substances. Betadine has the minimum toxic effect on the body because of the povidone, it ensures that the iodine is released at a slower rate which prevents it from being much harmful than using iodine on itself.
In very few cases irritation is experienced as the povidone minimizes any sort of irritation reaction. As it is low on toxicity can be purchased over the counter at a chemist.
What is Iodine?
Iodine is a chemical element. It is found in the periodic table of elements. It is represented by the symbol “I” and its atomic number is 53.
It is the heaviest of the stable halogens that exist. It was discovered by the chemist Bernard Courtois in the year 1811.
Its compound is lustrous grey. Iodine is a key element of life, at the atomic number Z=53, it is the heaviest element that is required by the living organisms.
It is necessary or proper regulation of the growth-regulating thyroid hormones such a thyroxin and triiodothyronine. Deficiency of iodine in the body will result in decreased production of thyroxin and triiodothyronine within the body resulting in enlargement of thyroid glands.
Hence the thyroid glands require iodine to form thyroid hormones within the body which controls the metabolism of the body. Iodine is also used in several nuclear medicines in order to treat certain kinds of cancer.
Iodine is very rare in nature, but a good source of iodine can be found in certain food products such as the fishes like cod and tuna. Iodine at room temperature can release toxic vapors and inhaling these vapors might result in muscle weakness and coma.
Main Differences Between Betadine and Iodine
- Betadine is chemically made. It consists of both povidone and iodine. Whereas iodine is an actual chemical element with an atomic number 53.
- The molecular formula of betadine isC6H9I2NO and the molecular formula for iodine isI2.
- Betadine is used for several purposes but it is majorly used as an antiseptic to treat wounds. It also disinfects the skin before and after surgeries. However, iodine is used to monitor and regulate the thyroid levels in the body. As Deficiency of iodine in the body will result in decreased production of thyroxin and triiodothyronine within the body resulting in enlargement of thyroid glands.
- Betadine is not naturally found. It is chemically made, but it can be found at the chemist over the counter without any prescription. Iodine on the other hand is very rarely found in nature but it is found in certain species of fish such as cod and tuna.
- Betadine is not as toxic aspovidone, it ensures that the iodine is released at a slower rate which prevents it from being much harmful than using iodine on itself. Iodine on the other hand at room temperature can release toxic vapors and inhaling these vapors might result in muscle weakness and coma.
- https://journals.lww.com/spinejournal/Fulltext/2005/08010/Efficacy_of_Dilute_Betadine_Solution_Irrigation_in.2.aspx
- https://journals.lww.com/plasreconsurg/Fulltext/2007/01000/Optimizing_Breast_Pocket_Irrigation__The.3.aspx
- https://academic.oup.com/edrv/article-abstract/30/4/376/2355070
- https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=3f-kPJ17_TYC&oi=fnd&pg=PA159&dq=iodine&ots=KozpDu7NM_&sig=pYe5sR_n2rwmyzbOpv5QI81k01w
I’ve put so much effort writing this blog post to provide value to you. It’ll be very helpful for me, if you consider sharing it on social media or with your friends/family. SHARING IS ♥️
Piyush Yadav has spent the past 25 years working as a physicist in the local community. He is a physicist passionate about making science more accessible to our readers. He holds a BSc in Natural Sciences and Post Graduate Diploma in Environmental Science. You can read more about him on his bio page.
