Bismuth [Bi] (CAS-ID: 7440-69-9) locate me
An: 83 N: 126 Am: 208.98038 (2)
Group No: 15  Group Name: Pnictogen
Block: p-block  Period: 6
State: solid
Colour: lustrous reddish white Classification: Metallic
Boiling Point: 1873K (1564'C)
Melting Point: 544.7K (271.5'C)
Density: 9.78g/cm3
Shell Structure diagram | Atomic Radius diagram
Isotopes | More Info
Discovery Information
Who: Known to the ancients.
Name Origin
German: wissmuth (white mass).
Sources
It can be found free in nature and in minerals like bismuthine (Bi2O3) and in bismuth ochre (Bi2O3). Canada, Bolivia, Japan, Mexico and Peru are major producers.
Uses
Main use is in pharmaceuticals, low melting point alloys, fuses, sprinklers, glass, ceramics and as a catalyst in rubber production. Strong permanent magnets can be made from the alloy "bismanol" (MnBi). In the early 1990s, research began to evaluate bismuth as a nontoxic replacement for lead in various applications.
Bismuth is sometimes used in the production of shot and shotgun slugs. Its advantage over lead in this respect is that it is non-toxic and therefore legal in the UK for the shooting of wetland birds.
Bismuth has also been used in solders. The fact that bismuth and many of its alloys expand slightly when they solidify make them ideal for this purpose.
Notes
Among the heavy metals, bismuth is unusual in that its toxicity is much lower than that of its neighbors in the periodic table such as lead, thallium and antimony.
In the early 1990s, research began to evaluate bismuth as a nontoxic replacement for lead in various applications.
Images
Pure Bismuth Pure Bismuth
Nugget of Bismuth from Bolivia Nugget of Bismuth from Bolivia
A Bismuth crystal grown in a laboratory A Bismuth crystal grown in a laboratory