3500-Bi

Bismuth

Approved by Standard Methods Committee, 2001. Editorial revisions, 2011 and 2020. Joint Task Group: 20th Edition—Brian J. Condike (chair), Deanna K. Anderson,
Anthony Bright, Richard A. Cahill, Alois F. Clary, C. Ellen Gonter, Peter M. Grohse, Daniel C. Hillman, Albert C. Holler, Amy Hughes, J. Charles Jennett, Roger A. Minear,
Marlene O. Moore, Gregg L. Oelker, S. Kusum Perera, James G. Poff, Jeffrey G. Skousen, Michael D. Wichman, John L. Wuepper.

Bismuth (Bi) is the fifth element in Group VA in the periodic
table. It has an atomic number of 83, an atomic weight of 208.98,
and valences of 3 and 5. The average abundance of Bi in the
earth’s crust in 0.08 ppm; in streams it is <0.02 mg/L, and in
groundwaters it is <0.1 mg/L. Bismuth occurs in association with
lead and silver ores, and occasionally as the native element. 210Bi,
212
Bi, and 214Bi are naturally occurring radioisotopes produced in
the decay of uranium and thorium. The metal is used in alloys of
lead, tin, and cadmium, and in some pharmaceuticals.
In natural water, Bi3+ ion will occur, and complex ions with
nitrate and chloride also might form. The iodide and telluride
compounds are toxic by ingestion or inhalation.
Perform analyses by the atomic absorption spectrometric method
(Section 3111 B) or by the electrothermal atomic absorption
method (Section 3113 B). The inductively coupled plasma mass
spectrometric method (Section 3125) also may be applied success-
fully in most cases (with lower detection levels), even though bis-
muth is not specifically listed as an analyte in the method.

Published Online: August 27, 2018

Revised: July 1, 2020
https://doi.org/10.2105/SMWW.2882.225 1