The concept of sublimation - iodine as an example

Sublimation is a process that is defined unequally in different textbooks and in various chemistry sources. Inexactness in defining basic concepts in chemistry can lead to alternative meanings for different people. Inconsistent explanations, then, can serve as a basis for developing misconceptions and preconceptions in latter students' education. Thus, the notion that upon heating iodine only sublimes, but does not melt is present in many chemistry textbooks, teachers lectures and, therefore, in students minds and may be considered as one of the widespread misconceptions in chemistry teaching. In this paper we offer a lecture demonstration showing the existence of all three states of iodine, supported by a short video-clip, hoping to give a contribution to the correction of misbelieves about the process of sublimation and the examples of subliming substances.