Bismuth

General
Name, Symbol, Number	Bismuth, Bi, 83
Chemical series	True metals[?]
Group, Period, Block	15 (VA), 6 , p
Density, Hardness	9780 kg/m3, 2.25
Appearance	lustrous reddish white
Atomic Properties
Atomic weight	208.98038 amu
Atomic radius (calc.)	160 (143) pm
Covalent radius	146 pm
van der Waals radius	no data
Electron configuration	[Xe]4f14 5d10 6s2 6p3
e- 's per energy level	2, 8, 18, 32, 18, 5
Oxidation states (Oxide)	3, 5 (mildly acidic)
Crystal structure	Rhombohedral
Physical Properties
State of matter	Solid
Melting point	544.4 K (520.3 °F)
Boiling point	1837 K (2847 °F)
Molar volume	21.31 ×10-3 m3/mol
Heat of vaporization	104.8 kJ/mol
Heat of fusion	11.3 kJ/mol
Vapor pressure	0.000627 Pa at 544 K
Speed of sound	1790 m/s at 293.15 K
Miscellaneous
Electronegativity	2.02 (Pauling scale)
Specific heat capacity	122 J/(kg×K)
Electrical conductivity	0.867 106/m ohm
Thermal conductivity	07.87 W/(m×K)
1st ionization potential	703 kJ/mol
2nd ionization potential	1610 kJ/mol
3rd ionization potential	2466 kJ/mol
4th ionization potential	4370 kJ/mol
5th ionization potential	5400 kJ/mol
6th ionization potential	8520 kJ/mol
Most Stable Isotopes
iso NA half-life DM DE MeV DP 207Bi {syn.} 31.55 y Epsilon 2.399 207Pb 208Bi {syn.} 3,368,000 y Epsilon 2.880 208Pb 209Bi 100% (1.9±0.2) ×1019y Alpha   205 Tl
SI units & STP are used except where noted.

Bismuth is a chemical element in the periodic table that has the symbol Bi and atomic number 83. This is heavy, brittle, white crystalline trivalent true metal[?] that has a pink tinge and chemically resembles arsenic and antimony. Most diamagnetic of all metals, bismuth has the lowest thermal conductivity of all the elements except mercury. Lead-free bismuth compounds are used in cosmetics and in medical procedures.

Table of contents 1 Notable Characteristics 2 Applications 3 History 4 Occurrence 5 External Links

Notable Characteristics

Before 2003, Bismuth was thought to be the heavest stable element, however research at the Institut d'Astrophysique Spatiale[?] in Orsay[?], France calculated the alpha emission half-life of the metal to be (1.9 +/- 0.2) × 10¹⁹ years. It is is a brittle metal with a pinkish hue with an iridescent tarnish. Among the heavy metals, it is the heaviest and the only non-toxic. No other metal is more diamagnetic than bismuth, except mercury. This metal, which occurs in its native form, has a high electrical resistance and also has the highest Hall effect of any metal (that is, it has the greatest increase in electrical resistance when it is placed in a magnetic field). When heated in air bismuth burns with a blue flame and its oxide[?] forms yellow fumes.

Applications

Bismuth oxychloride[?] is extensively used in cosmetics and bismuth subnitrate[?] and subcarbonate[?] are used in medicine. Other uses; "Bismanol[?]" (MnBi) is a strong permanent magnet.

• Bismuth alloys have low-melting temperature and are widely used for fire detection and suppression system safety devices.
• Bismuth is used in producing malleable irons and is finding use as a catalyst for making acrylic fibers.
• Also used as a thermocouple material.
• A carrier for U-235 or U233 fuel in nuclear reactors.
• Bismuth has also been used in solders.

In the early 1990s, research began on the evaluation of bismuth as a nontoxic replacement for lead in such uses as ceramic glazes, fishing sinkers, food processing equipment, free-machining brasses for plumbing applications, lubricating greases, and shot for waterfowl hunting.

History

Bismuth (German Weisse Masse meaning "white mass"; later Wisuth and Bisemutum) was confused in early times with tin and lead due to its resemblance to those elements. In 1753 Claude Geoffroy Junine[?] showed that this metal is distinct from lead.

Occurrence

Bismuthinite[?] and bismite[?] are the most important ores of bismuth. Canada, Bolivia, Japan, Mexico, and Peru are major producers. Bismuth produced in the United States is obtained as a by-product of copper, gold, lead, silver, tin and especially lead ore processing. The average price for bismuth in 2000 was US$ 3.50 per pound.

External Links

• WebElements.com - Bismuth (http://www.webelements.com/webelements/elements/text/Bi/index.html)
• EnvironmentalChemistry.com - Bismuth (http://environmentalchemistry.com/yogi/periodic/Bi.html)
• Bismuth breaks half-life record for alpha decay (http://physicsweb.org/article/news/7/4/16)