Bismuth

Bismuth is a chemical element with symbol Bi and

atomic number 83.
Bismuth, a pentavalent posttransition metal, chemically resembles arsenic and
antimony. Elemental bismuth may occur naturally, although its sulde and oxide form important commercial
ores. The free element is 86% as dense as lead. It is
a brittle metal with a silvery white color when freshly
produced, but is often seen in air with a pink tinge owing to surface oxidation. Bismuth is the most naturally
diamagnetic element, and has one of the lowest values of
thermal conductivity among metals.
Bismuth metal has been known since ancient times, although until the 18th century it was often confused with
lead and tin, which share some physical properties. The
etymology is uncertain, but possibly comes from Arabic
bi ismid, meaning having the properties of antimony[3] or
German words weisse masse or wismuth (white mass),
translated in the mid-sixteenth century to New Latin bisemutum.[4]
Alchemical symbol used by Torbern Bergman, 1775
Bismuth has long been considered the element with the
highest atomic mass that is stable. However, in 2003
it was discovered to be weakly radioactive: its only
primordial isotope, bismuth-209, decays via alpha decay
with a half life more than a billion times the estimated
age of the universe.[5]

in early times with tin and lead because of its resemblance

to those elements. Bismuth has been known since ancient times, so no one person is credited with its discovery. Agricola, in De Natura Fossilium (ca. 1546) states
that bismuth is a distinct metal in a family of metals including tin and lead. This was based on observation of the
metals and their physical properties.[7] Miners in the age
of alchemy also gave bismuth the name tectum argenti,
or silver being made, in the sense of silver still in the
process of being formed within the Earth.[8][9][10]

Bismuth compounds account for about half the production of bismuth. They are used in cosmetics, pigments,
and a few pharmaceuticals, notably bismuth subsalicylate,
used to treat diarrhea. Bismuths unusual propensity to
expand upon freezing is responsible for some of its uses,
such as in casting of printing type. Bismuth has unusually low toxicity for a heavy metal. As the toxicity of lead
has become more apparent in recent years, there is an increasing use of bismuth alloys (presently about a third of
bismuth production) as a replacement for lead.

Beginning with Johann Heinrich Pott in 1738,[11] Carl

Wilhelm Scheele and Torbern Olof Bergman, the distinctness of lead and bismuth became clear, and Claude
Franois Georoy demonstrated in 1753 that this metal
is distinct from lead and tin.[9][12][13] Bismuth was also
known to the Incas and used (along with the usual copper
and tin) in a special bronze alloy for knives.[14]

History
2 Characteristics

The name bismuth is from ca. 1660s, and is of uncertain etymology. It is one of the rst 10 metals to
have been discovered. Bismuth appears in the 1660s,
from obsolete German Bismuth, Wismut, Wissmuth (early
16th century); perhaps related to Old High German hwiz
(white).[4] The New Latin bisemutum (due to Georgius
Agricola, who Latinized many German mining and technical words) is from the German Wismuth, perhaps from
weie Masse, white mass.[6] The element was confused

2.1 Physical characteristics

Bismuth is a brittle metal with a white, silver-pink hue,
often occurring in its native form, with an iridescent oxide
tarnish showing many colors from yellow to blue. The
spiral, stair-stepped structure of bismuth crystals is the
result of a higher growth rate around the outside edges
1

CHARACTERISTICS

sistance.[12] When deposited in suciently thin layers on

a substrate, bismuth is a semiconductor, despite being a
post-transition metal.[17]
Elemental bismuth is denser in the liquid phase than
the solid, a characteristic it shares with antimony,
germanium, silicon and gallium.[18] Bismuth expands
3.32% on solidication; therefore, it was long a component of low-melting typesetting alloys, where it
compensated for the contraction of the other alloying components,[12][19][20][21] to form almost isostatic
bismuth-lead eutectic alloys.
Though virtually unseen in nature, high-purity bismuth
can form distinctive, colorful hopper crystals. It is relatively nontoxic and has a low melting point just above 271
C, so crystals may be grown using a household stove, although the resulting crystals will tend to be lower quality
than lab-grown crystals.[22]

Bismuth crystal illustrating the many iridescent refraction hues of

its oxide surface

At ambient conditions bismuth shares the same layered structure as the metallic forms of arsenic and
antimony,[23] crystallizing in the rhombohedral lattice[24]
(Pearson symbol hR6, space group R3m No. 166),
which is often classed into trigonal or hexagonal crystal
systems.[2] When compressed at room temperature, this
Bi-I structure changes rst to the monoclinic Bi-II at 2.55
GPa, then to the tetragonal Bi-III at 2.7 GPa, and nally
to the body-centered cubic Bi-IV at 7.7 GPa. The corresponding transitions can be monitored via changes in
electrical conductivity; they are rather reproducible and
abrupt, and are therefore used for calibration of highpressure equipment.[25][26]

2.2 Chemical characteristics

Bismuth is stable to both dry and moist air at ordinary
temperatures. When red-hot, it reacts with water to make
bismuth(III) oxide.[27]
2 Bi + 3 H2 O Bi2 O3 + 3 H2
Articially grown bismuth crystal illustrating the stairstep crystal
structure, with a 1 cm3 cube of bismuth metal

It reacts with uorine to make bismuth(V) uoride at 500

C or bismuth(III) uoride at lower temperatures (typically from Bi melts); with other halogens it yields only
than on the inside edges. The variations in the thickness bismuth(III) halides.[28][29][30] The trihalides are corroof the oxide layer that forms on the surface of the crys- sive and easily react with moisture, forming oxyhalides
tal causes dierent wavelengths of light to interfere upon with the formula BiOX.[31]
reection, thus displaying a rainbow of colors. When
burned in oxygen, bismuth burns with a blue ame and its
2 Bi + 3 X2 2 BiX3 (X = F, Cl, Br, I)
oxide forms yellow fumes.[12] Its toxicity is much lower
than that of its neighbors in the periodic table, such as
Bismuth dissolves in concentrated sulfuric acid to make
lead, antimony, and polonium.
bismuth(III) sulfate and sulfur dioxide.[27]
No other metal is veried to be more naturally
diamagnetic than bismuth.[12][15] (Superdiamagnetism is
6 H2 SO4 + 2 Bi 6 H2 O + Bi2 (SO4 )3 + 3
a dierent physical phenomenon.) Of any metal, it has
SO2
one of the lowest values of thermal conductivity (after
manganese, and maybe neptunium and plutonium) and
the highest Hall coecient.[16] It has a high electrical re- It reacts with nitric acid to make bismuth(III) nitrate.

3.1

Oxides and suldes

Bi + 6 HNO3 3 H2 O + 3 NO2 + Bi(NO3 )3

It also dissolves in hydrochloric acid, but only with oxygen present.[27]

4 Bi + 3 O2 + 12 HCl 4 BiCl3 + 6 H2 O
It is used as a transmetalating agent in the synthesis of
alkaline-earth metal complexes:
3 Ba + 2 BiPh3 3 BaPh2 + 2 Bi

2.3

Isotopes

Main article: Isotopes of bismuth

The only primordial isotope of bismuth, bismuth-209,
was traditionally regarded as the heaviest stable isotope,
but it had long been suspected[32] to be unstable on theoretical grounds. This was nally demonstrated in 2003,
when researchers at the Institut d'Astrophysique Spatiale in Orsay, France, measured the alpha emission halflife of 209Bi to be 1.91019 years,[33] over a billion
times longer than the current estimated age of the universe. Owing to its extraordinarily long half-life, for all
presently known medical and industrial applications, bismuth can be treated as if it is stable and nonradioactive.
The radioactivity is of academic interest because bismuth
is one of few elements whose radioactivity was suspected
and theoretically predicted before being detected in the
laboratory. Bismuth has the longest known alpha decay
half-life, although tellurium-128 has a double beta decay
half-life of over 2.21024 years.[34]

3
although they are less toxic than derivatives of those
lighter elements.

3.1 Oxides and suldes

At elevated temperatures, the vapors of the metal combine rapidly with oxygen, forming the yellow trioxide, Bi
2O
3.[18][38] When molten, at temperatures above 710
C, this oxide corrodes any metal oxide, and even
platinum.[30] On reaction with base, it forms two series
of oxyanions: BiO
2, which is polymeric and forms linear chains, and BiO3
3. The anion in Li
3BiO
3 is actually a cubic octameric anion, Bi
8O24
24, whereas the anion in Na
3BiO
3 is tetrameric.[39]
The dark red bismuth(V) oxide, Bi
2O
5, is unstable, liberating O
2 gas upon heating.[40] The compound NaBiO3 is a strong
oxidising agent.[41]
Bismuth sulde, Bi
2S
3, occurs naturally in bismuth ores.[42] It is also produced
by the combination of molten bismuth and sulfur.[29]

Several isotopes of bismuth with short half-lives occur

within the radioactive disintegration chains of actinium,
radium, and thorium, and more have been synthesized
experimentally. Bismuth-213 is also found on the decay
chain of uranium-233.[35]
Commercially, the radioactive isotope bismuth-213 can
be produced by bombarding radium with bremsstrahlung
photons from a linear particle accelerator. In 1997, an
antibody conjugate with bismuth-213, which has a 45minute half-life and decays with the emission of an alpha
particle, was used to treat patients with leukemia. This
isotope has also been tried in cancer treatment, for example, in the targeted alpha therapy (TAT) program.[36][37] Bismuth oxychloride (BiOCl) structure (mineral bismoclite). Bismuth atoms shown as grey, oxygen red, chlorine green.

Bismuth oxychloride (BiOCl, see gure at right) and

bismuth oxynitrate (BiONO3 ) stoichiometrically appear
as simple anionic salts of the bismuthyl(III) cation (BiO+ )
See also: Category:Bismuth compounds.
which commonly occurs in aqueous bismuth compounds.
However, in the case of BiOCl, the salt crystal forms in
Bismuth forms trivalent and pentavalent compounds, the a structure of alternating plates of Bi, O, and Cl atoms,
trivalent ones being more common. Many of its chemical with each oxygen coordinating with four bismuth atoms
properties are similar to those of arsenic and antimony, in the adjacent plane. This mineral compound is used as

Chemical compounds

4 OCCURRENCE AND PRODUCTION

a pigment and cosmetic (see below).[43]

4I
4 units. BiI decomposes upon heating to the triiodide, BiI
3, and elemental bismuth. A monobromide of the same
structure also exists.[39] In oxidation state +3, bismuth
3.2 Bismuthine and bismuthides
forms trihalides with all of the halogens: BiF
Unlike earlier members of group 15 elements such as ni- 3, BiCl
trogen, phosphorus, and arsenic, and similar to the previ- 3, BiBr
ous group 15 element antimony, bismuth does not form a 3, and BiI
3. All of these except BiF
stable hydride. Bismuth hydride, bismuthine (BiH
3), is an endothermic compound that spontaneously de- 3 are hydrolyzed by water.[39]
composes at room temperature. It is stable only below Bismuth(III) chloride reacts with hydrogen chloride in
60 C.[39] Bismuthides are intermetallic compounds be- ether solution to produce the acid HBiCl
tween bismuth and other metals.
4.[27]
In 2014 researchers discovered that sodium bismuthide
can exist as a form of matter called a three-dimensional
topological Dirac semi-metal (3DTDS) that possess 3D
Dirac fermions in bulk. It is a natural, three-dimensional
counterpart to graphene with similar electron mobility
and velocity. Graphene and topological insulators (such
as those in 3DTDS) are both crystalline materials that are
electrically insulating inside but conducting on the surface, allowing them to function as transistors and other
electronic devices. While sodium bismuthide (Na
3Bi) is too unstable to be used in devices without packaging, it can demonstrate potential applications of 3DTDS
systems, which oer distinct eciency and fabrication
advantages over planar graphene in semiconductor and
spintronics applications. [44][45]

The oxidation state +5 is less frequently encountered.

One such compound is BiF
5, a powerful oxidizing and uorinating agent. It is also
a strong uoride acceptor, reacting with xenon tetrauoride to form the XeF+
3 cation:[27]
BiF
5 + XeF
4 XeF+
3BiF
6

3.4 Aqueous species

In aqueous solution, in strong acid conditions the Bi3+

ion solvated to form the aqua ion Bi(H
The halides of bismuth in low oxidation states have been 2O)3+
[47]
At pH > 0 polynuclear species exist, the most imshown to adopt unusual structures. What was originally 8.
thought to be bismuth(I) chloride, BiCl, turns out to be a portant of which is believed to be the octahedral complex
[Bi
complex compound consisting of Bi5+
6O
9 cations and BiCl2
4(OH)
5 and Bi
4]6+
2Cl2
.[48]
8 anions.[39][46] The Bi5+
9 cation has a distorted tricapped trigonal prismatic
molecular geometry, and is also found in Bi
10Hf
4 Occurrence and production
3Cl
18, which is prepared by reducing a mixture of
hafnium(IV) chloride and bismuth chloride with elemen- In the Earths crust, bismuth is about twice as abundant as gold. The most important ores of bismuth are
tal bismuth, having the structure [Bi+
bismuthinite and bismite.[12] Native bismuth is known
] [Bi5+
from Australia, Bolivia, and China.[49][50]
9] [HfCl2
According to the United States Geological Survey, the
6]
3.[39]:50 Other polyatomic bismuth cations are also world mining production of bismuth in 2010 was 8,900
known, such as Bi2+
tonnes, with the major contributions from China (6,500
8, found in Bi
tonnes), Peru (1,100 tonnes) and Mexico (850 tonnes).
8(AlCl
The renery production was 16,000 tonnes, of which
4)
China produced 13,000, Mexico 850 and Belgium 800
2.[46] Bismuth also forms a low-valence bromide with the tonnes.[51] The dierence reects bismuths status as a
same structure as BiCl. There is a true monoiodide, byproduct of extraction of other metals such as lead, copBiI, which contains chains of Bi
per, tin, molybdenum and tungsten.[52]

3.3

Halides

4.2

Recycling

5
Demand for bismuth was small prior to World War II
and was pharmaceutical bismuth compounds were used
to treat such conditions as digestive disorders, sexually
transmitted diseases and burns. Minor amounts of bismuth metal were consumed in fusible alloys for re sprinkler systems and fuse wire. During World War II bismuth was considered a strategic material, used for solders, fusible alloys, medications and atomic research. To
stabilize the market, the producers set the price at $1.25
per pound (2.75 $/kg) during the war and at $2.25 per
pound (4.96 $/kg) from 1950 until 1964.[56]

Bismite mineral

In the early 1970s, the price rose rapidly as a result of

increasing demand for bismuth as a metallurgical additive to aluminium, iron and steel. This was followed by
a decline owing to increased world production, stabilized
consumption, and the recessions of 1980 and 198182.
In 1984, the price began to climb as consumption increased worldwide, especially in the United States and
Japan. In the early 1990s, research began on the evaluation of bismuth as a nontoxic replacement for lead in ceramic glazes, shing sinkers, food-processing equipment,
free-machining brasses for plumbing applications, lubricating greases, and shot for waterfowl hunting.[57] Growth
in these areas remained slow during the middle 1990s, in
spite of the backing of lead replacement by the US Government, but intensied around 2005. This resulted in a
rapid and continuing increase in price.[56]

Bismuth travels in crude lead bullion (which can contain up to 10% bismuth) through several stages of rening, until it is removed by the Kroll-Betterton process
which separates the impurities as slag, or the electrolytic
Betts process. Bismuth will behave similarly with another
of its major metals, copper.[53] The raw bismuth metal
from both processes contains still considerable amounts
of other metals, foremost lead. By reacting the molten
mixture with chlorine gas the metals are converted to
their chlorides while bismuth remains unchanged. Impurities can also be removed by various other methods
for example with uxes and treatments yielding highpurity bismuth metal (over 99% Bi). World bismuth pro4.2 Recycling
duction from reneries is a more complete and reliable
[53][54][55]
statistic.
Whereas bismuth is most available today as a byproduct,
its sustainability is more dependent on recycling. Bismuth
is mostly a byproduct of lead smelting, along with silver,
4.1 Price
zinc, antimony, and other metals, and also of tungsten
production, along with molybdenum and tin, and also of
copper production. Recycling bismuth is dicult in many
of its end uses, primarily because of scattering.

World mine production and annual averages of bismuth price

(New York, not adjusted for ination).[56]

Probably the easiest to recycle would be bismuthcontaining fusible alloys in the form of larger objects,
then larger soldered objects. Half of the worlds solder
consumption is in electronics (i.e., circuit boards).[58] As
the soldered objects get smaller or contain little solder or
little bismuth, the recovery gets progressively more difcult and less economic, although solder with a higher
silver content will be more worthwhile recovering. Next
in recycling feasibility would be sizeable catalysts with a
fair bismuth content, perhaps as bismuth phosphomolybdate, and then bismuth used in galvanizing and as a freemachining metallurgical additive.
Bismuth in uses where it is dispersed most widely include stomach medicines (bismuth subsalicylate), paints
(bismuth vanadate) on a dry surface, pearlescent cosmetics (bismuth oxychloride), and bismuth-containing bullets
that have been red. The bismuth scattered in these uses
is unrecoverable with present technology.

The price for pure bismuth metal has been relatively stable through most of the 20th century, except for a spike in
the 1970s. Bismuth has always been produced mainly as
a byproduct of lead rening, and thus the price, usually
reected the cost of recovery and the balance between
The most important sustainability fact about bismuth is its
production and demand.[56]

5 APPLICATIONS

byproduct status, which can either improve sustainability

(i.e., vanadium or manganese nodules) or, for bismuth
from lead ore, constrain it; bismuth is constrained. The
extent that the constraint on bismuth can be ameliorated
or not is going to be tested by the future of the lead storage battery, since 90% of the world market for lead is
in storage batteries for gasoline or diesel-powered motor
vehicles.
The life-cycle assessment of bismuth will focus on solders, one of the major uses of bismuth, and the one with
the most complete information. The average primary energy use for solders is around 200 MJ per kg, with the
high-bismuth solder (58% Bi) only 20% of that value, and
three low-bismuth solders (2% to 5% Bi) running very
close to the average. The global warming potential averaged 10 to 14 kg carbon dioxide, with the high-bismuth
solder about two-thirds of that and the low-bismuth solders about average. The acidication potential for the
solders is around 0.9 to 1.1 kg sulfur dioxide equivalent,
with the high-bismuth solder and one low-bismuth solder
only one-tenth of the average and the other low-bismuth
solders about average.[59] There is very little life-cycle information on other bismuth alloys or compounds.

fect of small doses of heavy metal ions on microbes)

may be involved in at least some cases. Salicylic
acid from hydrolysis of the compound is antimicrobial for toxogenic E. coli, an important pathogen in
travelers diarrhea.[61]
a combination of bismuth subsalicylate and bismuth
subcitrate is used to treat the bacteria causing peptic
ulcers.
Bibrocathol is an organic bismuth-containing compound used to treat eye infections.
Bismuth subgallate, the active ingredient in Devrom,
is used as an internal deodorant to treat malodor
from atulence (gas) and feces.
Bismuth compounds (including sodium bismuth tartrate) were formerly used to treat syphilis[62][63]
Milk of bismuth (an aqueous solution of bismuth
hydroxide and bismuth subcarbonate) was marketed
as an alimentary cureall in the early 20th century
Bismuth subnitrate (Bi5 O(OH)9 (NO3 )4 ) and
bismuth subcarbonate (Bi2 O2 (CO3 )) are also used
in medicine.[12]

Applications

Bismuth has few commercial applications, none of which

is particularly large. Taking the US as an example, 884
tonnes of bismuth were consumed in 2010, of which
63% went into chemicals (including pharmaceuticals,
pigments, and cosmetics), 26% into metallurgical additives for casting and galvanizing,[60] 7% into bismuth alloys, solders and ammunition, and 4% into research and
other uses.[51]

5.2 Cosmetics and pigments

Bismuth oxychloride (BiOCl) is sometimes used in cosmetics, as a pigment in paint for eye shadows, hair sprays
and nail polishes.[43][64][65] This compound is found as the
mineral bismoclite and in crystal form contains layers of
atoms (see gure above) that refract light chromatically,
resulting in an iridescent appearance similar to nacre of
pearl. It was used as a cosmetic in ancient Egypt and in
Some manufacturers use bismuth as a substitute in equip- many places since. Bismuth white (also Spanish white)
ment for potable water systems such as valves to meet can refer to either bismuth oxychloride or bismuth oxynilead-free mandates in the U.S. (starts in 2014). This is trate (BiONO3 ), when used as a white pigment.
a fairly large application since it covers all residential and
commercial building construction.

5.3 Metal and alloys

In the early 1990s, researchers began to evaluate bismuth

as a nontoxic replacement for lead in various applications. Bismuth is used in metal alloys with other metals such as
iron, to create alloys to go into automatic sprinkler systems for res. Also used to make bismuth bronze which
5.1 Medicines
was used in the Bronze Age.
Bismuth is an ingredient in some pharmaceuticals,
although the use of some of these substances is 5.3.1 Lead replacement
declining.[43]
The density dierence between lead (density 11.32
Bismuth subsalicylate is used as an antidiarrheal; gcm3 ) and bismuth (density 9.78 gcm3 ) is small
it is the active ingredient in such Pink Bismuth enough that for many ballistics and weighting applicapreparations as Pepto-Bismol, as well as the 2004 tions, bismuth can substitute for lead. For example, it can
reformulation of Kaopectate. It is also used to treat replace lead as a dense material in shing sinkers. It has
some other gastro-intestinal diseases. The mecha- been used as a replacement for lead in shot, bullets and
nism of action of this substance is still not well doc- less-lethal riot gun ammunition. The Netherlands, Denumented, although an oligodynamic eect (toxic ef- mark, England, Wales, the US, and many other countries

5.4

Other uses as compounds

now prohibit the use of lead shot for the hunting of wetland birds, as many birds are prone to lead poisoning owing to mistaken ingestion of lead (instead of small stones
and grit) to aid digestion, or even prohibit the use of lead
for all hunting, such as in the Netherlands. Bismuth-tin
alloy shot is one alternative that provides similar ballistic performance to lead. (Another less expensive but also
more poorly performing alternative is steel shot, which
is actually soft iron.) Bismuths lack of malleability does,
however, make it unsuitable for use in expanding hunting
bullets.

7
leable irons and as a thermocouple material.[12][51]

Bismuth is also used in Aluminum-Silicon cast alloy in

order to rening Si morphology. However, it indicated a
poisoning eect on modication of strontium (Sr).[72][73]
Some bismuth alloys, such as Bi35-Pb37-Sn25, are combined with non-sticking materials such as mica, glass
and enamels because they easily wet them allowing to
make joints to other parts. Addition of bismuth to caesium enhances the quantum yield of Cs cathodes.[43]
Sintering of bismuth and manganese powders at 300 C
produces a permanent magnet and magnetostrictive maBismuth, as a dense element of high atomic weight, is terial, which is used in ultrasonic generators and receivers
used in bismuth-impregnated latex shields to shield from working in the 10100 kHz range and in magnetic memX-ray in medical examinations, such as CTs, mostly as it ory devices.[74]
is considered non-toxic.[66]
The European Union's Restriction of Hazardous Sub- 5.4
stances Directive (RoHS) for reduction of lead has broadened bismuths use in electronics as a component of lowmelting point solders, as a replacement for traditional tinlead solders.[51] Its low toxicity will be especially important for solders to be used in food processing equipment
and copper water pipes, although it can also be used in
other applications including those in the automobile industry, in the EU for example.[67]

Other uses as compounds

Bismuth has been evaluated as a replacement for lead

in free-machining brasses for plumbing applications,[68]
although it does not equal the performance of leaded
steels.[67]
5.3.2

Other metal uses and specialty alloys

Many bismuth alloys have low melting points and are

found in specialty applications such as solders. Many au- Bismuth vanadate, a yellow pigment
tomatic sprinklers, electric fuses, and safety devices in
re detection and suppression systems contain the eutec Bismuth is included in BSCCO (bismuth strontium
tic In19.1-Cd5.3-Pb22.6-Sn8.3-Bi44.7 alloy that melts
[12]
calcium copper oxide) which is a group of simiat 47 C (117 F)
This is a convenient temperature
lar superconducting compounds discovered in 1988
since it is unlikely to be exceeded in normal living conthat exhibit the highest superconducting transition
ditions. Low-melting alloys, such as Bi-Cd-Pb-Sn alloy
temperatures.[75]
which melts at 70 C, are also used in automotive and
aviation industries. Before deforming a thin-walled metal
Bismuth subnitrate is a component of glazes that
part, it is lled with a melt or covered with a thin layer of
produces an iridescence and is used as a pigment in
the alloy to reduce the chance of breaking. Then the alloy
paint.
is removed by submerging the part in boiling water.[69]
Bismuth telluride is a semiconductor and an excelBismuth is used to make free-machining steels and freelent thermoelectric material.[43][76] Bi2 Te3 diodes
machining aluminium alloys for precision machining
are used in mobile refrigerators, CPU coolers, and
properties. It has similar eect to lead and improves the
as
detectors in infrared spectrophotometers.[43]
chip breaking during machining. The shrinking on solidication in lead and the expansion of bismuth compensate each other and therefore lead and bismuth are often
used in similar quantities.[70][71] Similarly, alloys containing comparable parts of bismuth and exhibit a very small
change (on the order 0.01%) upon melting, solidication
or aging. Such alloys are used in high-precision casting,
e.g. in dentistry, to create models and molds.[69] Bismuth
is also used as an alloying agent in production of mal-

Bismuth oxide, in its delta form, is a solid electrolyte

for oxygen. This form normally breaks down below
a high-temperature threshold, but can be electrodeposited well below this temperature in a highly alkaline solution.
Bismuth vanadate is an opaque yellow pigment
in artists oil and acrylic paint. This compound

9
is a non-toxic lightfast substitute for lemon yellow pigments such as the cadmium suldes and
the lead/strontium/barium chromates. Unlike lead
chromate+lead sulfate lemon, bismuth vanadate
does not readily blacken with UV exposure.[77][78]

9 References
[1] Standard Atomic Weights 2013. Commission on Isotopic
Abundances and Atomic Weights

A catalyst for making acrylic bers.[12]

[2] Cucka, P.; Barrett, C. S. (1962). The crystal structure of Bi and of solid solutions of Pb, Sn, Sb
and Te in Bi. Acta Crystallographica 15 (9): 865.
doi:10.1107/S0365110X62002297.

As an electrocatalyst in the conversion of CO2 to

CO.[79]

[3] Bismuth. WebMineral. Retrieved on 17 December 2011.

Ingredient in lubricating greases.

[80]

In crackling microstars (dragons eggs) in

pyrotechnics, as the oxide, subcarbonate or
subnitrate.[81][82]

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Toxicology and ecotoxicology

[4] Harper, Douglas. bismuth. Online Etymology Dictionary.

[5] Dum, Belle (23 April 2003). Bismuth breaks half-life
record for alpha decay. Physicsworld.
[6] Norman, Nicholas C. (1998). Chemistry of arsenic, antimony, and bismuth. p. 41. ISBN 978-0-7514-0389-3.
[7] Agricola, Georgious (1955) [1546]. De Natura Fossilium.
New York: Mineralogical Society of America. p. 178.
[8] Nicholson, William (1819). Bismuth. American edition
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Scientic literature concurs that bismuth and most of its

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Bismuths environmental impacts are not very well

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a close eye should be kept on its impact.

Bioremediation

The fungus Marasmius oreades can be used for the

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See also
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Bismuth minerals
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the public domain: Brown, R. D., Jr. Annual Average
Bismuth Price, USGS (1998)
Greenwood, N. N. & Earnshaw, A. (1997).
Chemistry of the Elements (2nd ed.). Oxford:
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11

External links

Laboratory growth of large crystals of Bismuth by

Jan Kihle Crystal Pulling Laboratories, Norway
Bismuth at The Periodic Table of Videos (University
of Nottingham)
Bismuth breaks half-life record for alpha decay
Bismuth Crystals Instructions & Pictures

12

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Bismuth Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bismuth?oldid=706166338 Contributors: CYD, Mav, Bryan Derksen, LA2, Enchanter,
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File:Office-book.svg Source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a8/Office-book.svg License: Public domain Contributors: This and myself. Original artist: Chris Down/Tango project
File:Rhombohedral.svg Source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/03/Rhombohedral.svg License: CC-BY-SA-3.0
Contributors: Image:Rhombohedral.png Original artist: Created by Daniel Mayer, traced by User:Stannered
File:Transparent.gif Source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/ce/Transparent.gif License: Public domain Contributors: Own work Original artist: Edokter
File:Wiktionary-logo-en.svg Source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f8/Wiktionary-logo-en.svg License: Public
domain Contributors: Vector version of Image:Wiktionary-logo-en.png. Original artist: Vectorized by Fvasconcellos (talk contribs),
based on original logo tossed together by Brion Vibber
File:Wismut_Kristall_und_1cm3_Wuerfel.jpg Source:
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und_1cm3_Wuerfel.jpg License: FAL Contributors: Own work Original artist: Alchemist-hp (<a href='//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/
User_talk:Alchemist-hp' title='User talk:Alchemist-hp'>talk</a>) (www.pse-mendelejew.de)

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Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0