Applications
Periodic acid is used as a component for glycoprotein stains. It serves as a pharmaceutical and synthetic intermediate and is used in silk screen printing. It acts as an oxidizing agent especially in the cleavage of 1,2 diols to prepare dialdehydes. It has selective oxidation powers which makes it an ideal reagent for the reclamation of silk screens in the printing industry. It finds application in life sciences for the analysis of intracellular polysaccharides like glycogen, starch and cellulose. Furthermore, it is used in oxidation reactions converting sulfides into sulfones, catalyzed by chromium(VI) oxide and oxidation reactions converting alcohols to aldehydes and ketones.

Solubility
Soluble in water and alcohols.

Notes
Light sensitive and hygroscopic. Keep the container tightly closed in a dry and well-ventilated place. Incompatible with strong reducing agents, powdered metals, strong bases and dimethyl sulfoxide.