What is the mechanism behind the formation of the iodine starch complex?

The formation of the iodine starch complex occurs through a process called iodine-starch complexation. This happens when iodine molecules interact with the starch molecules, forming a stable complex due to the presence of specific functional groups in both substances. This complexation is characterized by a blue-black color change, which is commonly used as a test for the presence of starch in a solution.