Iodine properties. Jar of solid iodine (I2) next to a beaker containing iodine dissolved in hexane (top layer, purple) and iodine dissolved in water (bottom layer). Solid iodine is seen at the bottom of the beaker. Iodine does not dissolve well in water, explaining the faint brown colour observed. It does dissolve well in hexane, forming a strong purple colour (as seen). The bonding of the solute (iodine) and the solvents (water and hexane) can be used to explain these observations. Iodine has covalent (non-ionic) bonding, and dissolves well in non-polar solvents like hexane. Polar solvents, like water, are better at dissolving ionic solids.