Iodine Value Calculator

The Iodine Value measures how many grams of iodine a fat or oil absorbs per 100g of sample — a standard indicator of how unsaturated (and how prone to oxidation or drying) that fat or oil is. Select a calculation method — Basic (mass of iodine absorbed), Titration (using thiosulfate volumes and normality), or Fatty Acid Composition (entering percentages of individual fatty acids) — then enter your sample values to get the Iodine Value in g I₂/100g, along with the Oil Classification and Degree of Unsaturation.

Calculation Method *

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Mass of iodine absorbed by the sample

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Total mass of the fat/oil sample

mL

Volume of thiosulfate used for blank titration

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Volume of thiosulfate used for sample titration

N

Normality of sodium thiosulfate solution

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Results

Iodine Value

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Oil Classification

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Degree of Unsaturation

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is an iodine value?

Iodine value is a measure of the degree of unsaturation in fats and oils, expressed as grams of iodine absorbed by 100 grams of fat. Higher values indicate more unsaturated fatty acids.

How to calculate iodine value?

The basic formula is IV = (Mass of Iodine Absorbed / Sample Mass) × 100. For titration method, use IV = [(B-S) × N × 126.9] / Sample Mass, where B is blank volume, S is sample volume, and N is normality.

What are typical iodine values for different oils?

Coconut oil: 8-10, Palm oil: 50-55, Olive oil: 80-88, Sunflower oil: 125-140, Linseed oil: 170-204. Higher values indicate more unsaturated oils.

Why is iodine value important in soap making?

Iodine value helps determine oil hardness and soap bar quality. Lower iodine values produce harder soaps, while higher values create softer, more conditioning soaps.

What does a high iodine value indicate?

A high iodine value indicates high unsaturation, meaning the oil contains many double bonds. Such oils are more prone to rancidity but provide better conditioning properties in cosmetics.

How accurate is the fatty acid composition method?

The fatty acid composition method is highly accurate when precise fatty acid percentages are known. It's commonly used in industrial applications for quality control.

What is the difference between iodine value and saponification value?

Iodine value measures unsaturation (double bonds), while saponification value measures the amount of alkali needed to saponify the fat. Both are important for oil characterization.