So although you didn't put any iodine into

the mixture, it is made in situ. What about

the hydroxide ions?

Sodium chlorate(I) solution is alkaline and

contains enough hydroxide ions to carry
out the second half of the reaction. The
reason that sodium chlorate(I) is alkaline is
that it reacts reversibly with water to form
the weak acid chloric(I) acid together with
hydroxide ions.

The chemistry of the triiodomethane

(iodoform) reaction
What the triiodomethane (iodoform)
reaction shows
A positive result - the pale yellow
precipitate of triiodomethane
(iodoform) - is given by an aldehyde or
ketone containing the grouping:

"R" can be a hydrogen atom or a

hydrocarbon group (for example, an
alkyl group).