Iodine is one of seven elements that usually form as diatomic molecules. These other "diatomics" are 
and 
. They typically bond to themselves.
Iodine has seven valence electrons. Using valence shell electron pair repulsion (VSEPR) theory, we can predict the Lewis dot structure for
. We see there are fourteen electrons, and we can make a covalent bond, leaving three lone pairs on each atom. The bond replaces two electrons, so the number of electrons shared is two.
Iodine has seven valence electrons. Using valence shell electron pair repulsion (VSEPR) theory, we can predict the Lewis dot structure for