"Element 83 - Bismuth - Science Notes and Projects." Science Notes and Projects. Wordpress, 31 May 2013. Web. 22 Jan. 2015.
History and Naming
The word Bismuth comes from the German word Weisse Masse meaning “white mass”, this changed to Wismuth then Bisemutum, from these two names we got Bismuth.
The History of the element Bismuth was never technically confirmed, but many people believe it was found by Claude Geoffroy the Younger in 1753. I know that you are probably thinking that metals cant really be “discovered” because they have always been on the earth but Geoffrey discovered bismuth as its own element. Before Geoffrey, bismuth had been confused with the elements around it like lead (Pb) and Tin (Sn). It is hard to believe that bismuth is a stable element as we can ingest it safely, where as it neighbor on the periodic table (Lead-Pb) is poisonous to humans.
The History of the element Bismuth was never technically confirmed, but many people believe it was found by Claude Geoffroy the Younger in 1753. I know that you are probably thinking that metals cant really be “discovered” because they have always been on the earth but Geoffrey discovered bismuth as its own element. Before Geoffrey, bismuth had been confused with the elements around it like lead (Pb) and Tin (Sn). It is hard to believe that bismuth is a stable element as we can ingest it safely, where as it neighbor on the periodic table (Lead-Pb) is poisonous to humans.
Image: Claude Geoffory. Digital image. Yatedo. Yatedo.fr, n.d. Web. 27 Oct. 2015. <http://www.yatedo.com/p/Claude+Fran%C3%A7ois+Geoffroy/famous/3bcda159a178c4084a4539227c0e7b3c>.
Uses and Sources
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Bismuth is hardly ever used in its metallic state. It is one of the heaviest almost stable element. Although it is able to be made into medicine, most commonly known as Pepto Bismol. Pepto Bismol is 57% pure bismuth it is made from bismuth subsalicylate. Bismuth is also used a lot for its alloys, its alloys are used in fire detectors and sprinkler systems. It is mined in china and Bolivia. Bismuth is mainly found in Bolivia- but its usually obtained through mining and purifying elements like lead copper tin silver and gold. It is usually white with a brittle metallic pink color. It can also be mixed with other elements like iron or tin to make things like fire detectors and electrical fuses.
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Compounds
Bismuth has many compound, including Bismuth Oxychloride- BiClO, Bismuth chloride- BiCl3, Bismuth hydroxide- Bi(OH)3, Bi calcium copper oxide- BiSrCaCuO. Bismuth Oxychloride is one of the most common to our everyday lives it is used in cosmetics. Because of its white coloring it is used as a pigment in makeup powder. This compound is not polar because when it doesn't need a low melting/freezing point to separate the compound, for this compound it also is insoluble meaning it can’t be dissolved in water making it not polar. The melting point of this compound is 271.3 oC and the boiling point is 1564 oC, its molar mass is 260.43 g/mol-1. However that is not the only compound from Bismuth used in cosmetics; Bismuth hydroxide- Bi(OH)3 is used also. It is a white-yellow amorphous powder. Its molar weight is of 260.002 g/mol-1, it is also insoluble in water.
Mind Blowing Facts About Bismuth
It has been used since ancient times but was often confused with lead and tin.
No specific person was credited toward its discovery. Until Claude Geoffery (see first paragraph) found it as a single element.
It was among the first 10 metals to be discovered.
The reason that Bismuth crystals grow in the staircase shape is because of a greater growth on the outer edges than in the inside.
Is liquid state is denser than its solid state.
One of bismuth's isotopes, Bi-209, was once believed to be the heaviest stable isotope in existence, but it was proven in 2003 that this isotope actually does decay. (soft schools)
Bismuth is around twice as common as gold in the earths crust
Almost 9,000 tons of bismuth are extracted and produced annually.
Almost 75% of the bismuth produced is from China.
Medications, cosmetics, paint, and bullets made of bismuth would currently be impossible to recycle due to technology limitations.
In 2010, the US used less than 900 tons of bismuth, with more than 60% of those uses going to one of the four applications that cannot be recycled.
Beginning in 2014, water systems will be required to be lead-free, and bismuth is currently being studied as a replacement.
No specific person was credited toward its discovery. Until Claude Geoffery (see first paragraph) found it as a single element.
It was among the first 10 metals to be discovered.
The reason that Bismuth crystals grow in the staircase shape is because of a greater growth on the outer edges than in the inside.
Is liquid state is denser than its solid state.
One of bismuth's isotopes, Bi-209, was once believed to be the heaviest stable isotope in existence, but it was proven in 2003 that this isotope actually does decay. (soft schools)
Bismuth is around twice as common as gold in the earths crust
Almost 9,000 tons of bismuth are extracted and produced annually.
Almost 75% of the bismuth produced is from China.
Medications, cosmetics, paint, and bullets made of bismuth would currently be impossible to recycle due to technology limitations.
In 2010, the US used less than 900 tons of bismuth, with more than 60% of those uses going to one of the four applications that cannot be recycled.
Beginning in 2014, water systems will be required to be lead-free, and bismuth is currently being studied as a replacement.
Reaction
Bismuth does not reacts with air at regular temperatures, although as it nears its boiling point it forms a oxide coating and oxidizes. The color of the oxide; a yellowish tint distinguishes it from other metals. A red heat it reacts with steam, but doesn't react with cold or air free water. Overall Bismuth is defiantly one of the less reactive elements.
Sources
"Bismuth Facts." SoftSchools. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Oct. 2015.
"Bismuth Oxide." Nanum. Nanum Nanotecnologia S.A., n.d. Web. 23 Oct. 2015.
"Bismuth: Radii of Atoms and Ions." Bismuth»radii of Atoms and Ions [WebElements Periodic Table]. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Oct. 2015.
"Bismuth." Science Views. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Oct. 2015.
"Compounds with Bismuth - Bismuth." Google Sites. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Oct. 2015.
Gray, Theodore W., and Nick Mann. "Bismuth." The Elements: A Visual Exploration of Every Known Atom in the Universe. New York: Black Dog & Leventhal, 2009. 192-93. Print.
Sanderson, Thomas R. "Bismuth (Bi) | Chemical Element." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, n.d. Web. 23 Oct. 2015.
Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility - Office of Science Education. "The Element Bismuth." Jefferson Lab. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 Oct. 2015.
pixabay.com
Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility - Office of Science Education, and Steve Gagnon. "The Element Bismuth." It's Elemental - N.p., n.d. Wed. 23 Oct. 2015
Claude Geoffory. Digital image. Yatedo. Yatedo.fr, n.d. Web. 27 Oct. 2015. <http://www.yatedo.com/p/Claude+Fran%C3%A7ois+Geoffroy/famous/3bcda159a178c4084a4539227c0e7b3c>
Kean, Sam. The Disappearing Spoon: And Other True Tales of Madness, Love, and the History of the World from the Periodic Table of the Elements. New York: Little, Brown, 2010. Print.
"Bismuth Oxide." Nanum. Nanum Nanotecnologia S.A., n.d. Web. 23 Oct. 2015.
"Bismuth: Radii of Atoms and Ions." Bismuth»radii of Atoms and Ions [WebElements Periodic Table]. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Oct. 2015.
"Bismuth." Science Views. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Oct. 2015.
"Compounds with Bismuth - Bismuth." Google Sites. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Oct. 2015.
Gray, Theodore W., and Nick Mann. "Bismuth." The Elements: A Visual Exploration of Every Known Atom in the Universe. New York: Black Dog & Leventhal, 2009. 192-93. Print.
Sanderson, Thomas R. "Bismuth (Bi) | Chemical Element." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, n.d. Web. 23 Oct. 2015.
Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility - Office of Science Education. "The Element Bismuth." Jefferson Lab. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 Oct. 2015.
pixabay.com
Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility - Office of Science Education, and Steve Gagnon. "The Element Bismuth." It's Elemental - N.p., n.d. Wed. 23 Oct. 2015
Claude Geoffory. Digital image. Yatedo. Yatedo.fr, n.d. Web. 27 Oct. 2015. <http://www.yatedo.com/p/Claude+Fran%C3%A7ois+Geoffroy/famous/3bcda159a178c4084a4539227c0e7b3c>
Kean, Sam. The Disappearing Spoon: And Other True Tales of Madness, Love, and the History of the World from the Periodic Table of the Elements. New York: Little, Brown, 2010. Print.
