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bismuth
Columbia Encyclopedia entry: bismuth
Bismuthbĭz'məth [Ger. Weisse Masse=white mass], metallic chemical element; symbol Bi; at. no. 83; at. wt. 208.9804; m.p. 271.3°C; b.p. about 1,560°C; sp. gr. 9.75 at 20°C; valence +3 or +5. Bismuth is a silver-white, reddish-tinged, brittle metallic element with a rhombohedral crystalline structure. It exhibits more metallic properties than the other members of Group 15 of the periodic table. It occurs free in nature to a small extent. Bismuth does not tarnish in air, but when heated it burns to form yellow fumes of the trioxide. It reacts with the halogens and with sulfur and is dissolved in nitric acid and hot sulfuric acid. Its soluble compounds are poisonous, but some of its insoluble compounds are used in medicine to treat certain gastric disorders and skin injuries. Bismuth is the poorest heat conductor of all the metals except mercury; it is the most diamagnetic of all metals. The major ores of bismuth, bismuthinite (the sulfide), also called bismuth glance, and bismite (the oxide), are found extensively in South America but are rare in the United States, where bismuth is obtained as a byproduct of lead and copper refining. Bismuth expands upon solidification; this unusual property makes it useful in type-metal alloys and for castings. The most important use of bismuth is in the manufacture of low-melting alloys, such as Wood's metal, used in electrical fuses and in automatic fire alarm and sprinkler systems. Bismuth was recognized as a metal by early observers, including Georg Agricola, in the 16th cent., but was believed to be a kind of lead or tin until Claud J. Geoffroy established it as a separate element in 1753.

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Wikipedia search results for: Bismuth
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Bismuth is a chemical element that has the symbol Bi and atomic number 83. This trivalent poor metal chemically resembles arsenic and antimony. Bismuth is heavy and brittle; it has a silvery white color with a pink tinge owing to the surface oxide. Bismuth is the most naturally diamagnetic of all metals, and only mercury has a lower thermal conductivity. It is generally considered to be the last naturally occurring stable, non-radioactive element on the periodic table, although it is actually slightly radioactive, with an extremely long half-life. Bismuth compounds are used in cosmetics, medicines, and in medical procedures. As the toxicity of lead...more »
Columbia Encyclopedia search results: bismuth
Results 1 - 10  of 29
  • Periodic Table of the Elements: Bismuth

    Periodic Table of the Elements: BismuthAtomic Number:83Atomic Symbol:BiBismuthAtomic Weight:208.9804ElectronConfiguration:2 · 8 · 1832 · 18 · 5

  • Bi

    Bi, symbol for the element bismuth.

  • britannia metal

    Britannia metal, silvery-white alloy of tin with antimony, copper, and sometimes bismuth and zinc. It is very similar in appearance to pewter, but is harder. It is used widely for the manufact...

  • Cannon, Walter Bradford

    Cannon, Walter Bradford, 1871–1945, American physiologist. While still a medical student at Harvard, Cannon was the first to demonstrate (1897) that bismuth could be utilized as a contrast med...

  • mineral

    Mineral, inorganic substance occurring in nature, having a characteristic and homogeneous chemical composition, definite physical properties, and, usually, a definite crystalline form. A few o...

  • Cerro de Pasco

    Cerro de Pasco, city (1991 pop. 30,000), capital of Pasco dept., central Peru. At an altitude of 13,973 ft (4,259 m), it is one of the highest cities in the world. Cerro de Pasco is noted for ...

  • meitnerium

    Meitnerium, artificially produced radioactive chemical element; symbol Mt; at. no. 109; mass number of most stable isotope 266; m.p., b.p., sp. gr., and valence unknown. Situated in Group 9 of...

  • roentgenium

    Roentgenium, artificially produced radioactive chemical element; symbol Rg; at. no. 111; mass number of most stable isotope 272; m.p., b.p., sp. gr., and valence unknown. Situated in Group 11 ...

  • bohrium

    Bohrium, artificially produced radioactive chemical element; symbol Bh; at. no. 107; mass number of most stable isotope 262; m.p., b.p., sp. gr., and valence unknown. Situated in Group 7 of th...

  • polonium

    Polonium, radioactive chemical element; symbol Po; at. no. 84; mass no. of most stable isotope 209; m.p. 254°C; b.p. 962°C; sp. gr. about 9.4; valence +2 or +4. Polonium is an extremely rare e...

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