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Bismuth is both the most diamagnetic element and one of the least thermally conductive metals known. Bismuth used to be considered one of the elements with the highest atomic mass whose nuclei do not spontaneously decay. However, in 2003 it was discovered to be extremely weakly radioactive.
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bismuth (Bi), the most metallic and the least abundant of the elements in the nitrogen group (Group 15 [Va] of the periodic table). Bismuth is hard, brittle, lustrous, and coarsely crystalline. It can be distinguished from all other metals by its colour—gray-white with a reddish tinge.
Bismuth evidently was known in very early times, since it occurs in the native state as well as in compounds. For a long period, however, it was not clearly recognized as a separate metal, having been confused with such metals as lead, antimony, and tin. Miners during the Middle Ages apparently believed bismuth to be a stage in the development of s...
Bismuth is about as abundant as silver, contributing about 2 × 10−5 weight percent of Earth’s crust. Its cosmic abundance is estimated as about one atom to every 7,000,000 atoms of silicon. It occurs both native and in compounds. In the native state, it is found in veins associated with lead, zinc, tin, and silver ores in Bolivia, Canada, England, and Germany. Its naturally occurring compounds are chiefly the oxide (bismite or bismuth ochre, Bi2O3), the sulfide (bismuthinite or bismuth glance, Bi2S3), and two carbonates (bismutite, (BiO)2CO3, and bismutosphaerite). Commercial bismuth, however, is produced largely as a by-product in the smelting and refining of lead, tin, copper, silver, and gold ores. Thus, it comes—for example—from tungsten ores in South Korea, lead ores in Mexico, copper ores in Bolivia, and both lead and copper ores in Japan. By the early 21st century, however, China was leading the world in both the mining and the refining of bismuth. Pure bismuth can also be obtained by reducing the oxide with carbon or by roasting the sulfide in the presence of charcoal and metallic iron to remove the sulfur.
Bismuth forms only one stable isotope, that of mass 209. A large number of radioactive isotopes are known, most of them very unstable.
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Bismuth is volatile at high temperature, but it usually remains with the other metals after smelting operations. Electrolytic refining of copper leaves bismuth behind as one component of the anode sludge. Separation of bismuth from lead by the Betterton–Kroll process involves the formation of high-melting calcium or magnesium bismuthide (Ca3Bi2 or Mg3Bi2), which separates and can be skimmed off as dross. The dross may be chlorinated to remove the magnesium or calcium, and finally the entrained lead. Treatment with sodium hydroxide then produces highly pure bismuth. An alternative separation, the Betts process, involves electrolytic refining of lead bullion (containing bismuth and other impurities) in a solution of lead fluosilicate and free fluosilicic acid, bismuth being recovered from the anode sludge. Separation of bismuth from its oxide or carbonate ores can be effected by leaching with concentrated hydrochloric acid. Dilution then precipitates the oxychloride, BiOCl. This, on heating with lime and charcoal, produces metallic bismuth.
Metallic bismuth is used principally in alloys, to many of which it imparts its own special properties of low melting point and expansion on solidification (like water and antimony). Bismuth is thus a useful component of type-metal alloys, which make neat, clean castings; and it is an important ingredient of low-melting alloys, called fusible alloys, which have a large variety of applications, especially in fire-detection equipment. A bismuth–manganese alloy has been found effective as a permanent magnet. Small concentrations of bismuth improve the machinability of aluminum, steel, stainless steels, and other alloys and suppress the separation of graphite from malleable cast iron. Thermoelectric devices for refrigeration make use of bismuth telluride, Bi2Te3, and bismuth selenide, Bi2Se3. Liquid bismuth has been used as a fuel carrier and coolant in the generation of nuclear energy.
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Bismuth is a gray-white metal in the nitrogen group with low melting point and high density. It is used in alloys, fire-detection equipment, and nuclear applications. Learn about its occurrence, distribution, isotopes, and more.
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Element Bismuth (Bi), Group 15, Atomic Number 83, p-block, Mass 208.980. Sources, facts, uses, scarcity (SRI), podcasts, alchemical symbols, videos and images. Jump to main content
Nov 21, 2017 · Bismuth is a brittle, crystalline, white metal with a slight pink tinge. It has a variety of uses, including cosmetics, alloys, fire extinguishers and ammunition. It is probably best known as the...
- Carol Stoll
Bismuth - Properties, Reactions, Atomic: Bismuth is a rather brittle metal with a somewhat pinkish, silvery metallic lustre. Bismuth is the most diamagnetic of all metals (i.e., it exhibits the greatest opposition to being magnetized). It is hard and coarsely crystalline.
Apr 5, 2024 · Learn about bismuth, a rare and colorful element that forms iridescent crystals and has various industrial applications. Find out its chemical, physical, and optical properties, as well as its occurrence and distribution in minerals and ores.
Bismuth is a hard, brittle, and lustrous element with a gray-white color and a reddish tinge. It has various uses in metal castings, solders, catalysts, soothing agents, cosmetics, and more.
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