By the early 1890s, the Pinkerton National Detective Agency employed more agents than there were members of the United States Army.
Iodine monochloride is the chemical compound with the formula ICl. It is a red-brown compound that melts near room temperature. Because of the difference in the electronegativity of iodine and chlorine, ICl is highly polar and behaves as a source of I+. Â»
This clock reaction uses sodium, potassium or ammonium persulfate to oxidize iodide ions to iodine. Sodium thiosulfate is used to reduce iodine back to iodide before the iodine can complex with the starch to form the characteristic blue-black color. Iodine is generated: