Bismuth

Properties
Atomic symbol |  Bi
Atomic number |  83
Classification |  Pnictogen
Atomic mass |  208.9804 amu
Number of Stable Isotopes |  1
Density (grams per cc) |  9.8 g/cm^3
Other Information
Date of discovery |  Known since the 15th century.
Name of discoverer |  Shown to be a distinct element in 1753 by Claude Geoffrey
Name origin |  From the German bisemutum, related to wissmuth, "white mass".
Uses |  Pharmaceuticals, alloys, electronics, pigments, fire alarms, and pyrotechnics
Obtained from |  Bismuthine, bismuthinite, bismite, bismutite. Commercially obtained as byproduct of lead or copper smelting.

Bismuth is an element that has the symbol Bi and atomic number 83\. It is in the "pnictogen" (phosphorus group) column of the periodic table.

This heavy, brittle, white crystalline trivalent metal has a pink tinge and chemically resembles arsenic and antimony. Of all the metals, it is the most naturally diamagnetic, and only mercury has a lower thermal conductivity. It has generally been considered to be the last stable, non-radioactive element on the periodic table. But its one "stable" isotope was recently shown to be radioactive with half-life of over 1019 (19 quintillion) years.

Bismuth compounds are used in cosmetics, medicines, and in medical procedures. As the toxicity of lead has become more apparent in recent years, alloy uses for bismuth metal as a replacement for lead have become an increasing part of bismuth's commercial importance.

Alloys with bismuth can have very low melting points, and are used as triggers in fire sprinkler systems.

Periodic Table of the Elements

1  | 2  | 3  | 4  | 5  | 6  | 7  | 8  | 9  | 10  | 11  | 12  | 13  | 14  | 15  | 16  | 17  | 18

1.008

|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |

4.003

6.939

9.0122

|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |

10.811

12.011

14.007

15.999

18.998

10.183

22.99

24.312

|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |

26.982

28.086

30.974

32.064

35.453

39.948

39.102

40.08

44.956

47.9

50.942

51.996

54.938

55.847

58.933

58.71

63.546

65.37

69.72

72.59

74.922

78.96

79.904

83.8

85.47

87.62

88.905

91.22

92.906

95.94

[97]

101.07

102.91

106.4

107.87

112.4

114.82

118.69

121.75

127.6

126.9

131.3

132.91

137.34

57*

138.91

178.49

180.95

183.85

186.2

190.2

192.2

195.09

196.97

200.59

204.37

207.19

208.98

210

210

222

215

226.03

89**

227.03

104

[261]

105

[262]

106

[266]

107

[264]

108

[265]

109

[268]

110

[271]

111

[272]

112

[277]

113

[284]

114

[289]

115

[288]

116

[292]

117

[293]

118

[294]

|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
*Lanthanides  |

140.12

140.91

144.24

145

150.35

151.96

157.25

158.92

162.5

164.93

167.26

168.93

173.04

174.97

|  |
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
**Actinides  |

232.04

231

238.03

237.05

239.05

241.06

244.06

249.08

252.08

252.08

100

257.1

101

258.1

102

259.1

103

262.11

|  |
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |