Applications
Sodium iodide is widely used for halide exchange (Finkelstein reaction), for example in the conversion of an alkyl chloride, allyl chloride and arylmethyl chloride into their respective iodides, which are precursors for pharmaceutical and fine chemical products. They are used to ehnance the efficiency of the formation of Wittig adducts from less reactive chlorides and bromides. Appropriate prepartions find use as a nutrient supplement. Sodium iodide is used as the precursor to the control agent in ab initio emulsion polymerization. Sodium iodide finds use in the determination of dissolved oxygen in the modified Winkler method, synthesis of the fluorescent dye coppersensor-1 (CS1) for imaging labile copper pools in biological samples, and the cleavage of esters, lactones, carbamates and ethers in combination with chlorotrimethylsilane.

Solubility
Very soluble in water and liquid ammonia. Freely soluble in acetone, formic acid, formamide, methanol, and acetonitrile. Soluble in N,N-dimethylformamide.

Notes
Deliquescent. Store in a tightly closed container. Incompatible with strong oxidizing agents and acids.