Bismuth information, including Technical Data, Safety Data and its High Purity properties, research, applications and other useful facts are discussed below. Scientific facts such as the atomic structure, ionization energy, abundance on Earth, conductivity and thermal properties are included.
 Bismuth is the most diamagnetic of all metals, and the thermal conductivity is lower than any metal, except mercury . It has a high electrical resistance, and has the highest Hall Effect of any metal (i.e., greatest increase in electrical resistance when placed in a magnetic field). Bismuth expands on solidification. This property makes bismuth alloys particularly suited to the making of sharp castings of objects subject to damage by high temperatures. With other metals such as tin, cadmium , etc., bismuth forms low-melting alloys which are extensively used for safety devices in fire detection and extinguishing systems. Bismuth is used in producing malleable irons and is finding use as a catalyst for making acrylic fibers. When bismuth is heated in air it burns with a blue flame, forming yellow fumes of the oxide. The metal is also used as a thermocoupling material, and has found application as a carrier for 235 U or 233 U fuel in nuclear reactors. Its soluble salts are characterized by forming unsoluble basic salts on the addition of water, a property sometimes used in detection work. Bismuth oxychloride is used extensively in cosmetics. Bismuth nitrate and carbonate are used in medicine. Bismuth is available as metal and compounds with purities from 99% to 99.9999% (ACS grade to ultra-high purity); metals in the form of foil, sputtering target, and rod, and compounds as submicron and nanopowder.
Bismuth is also used in various metal alloys (See AE Alloys).
Bismuth facts, including appearance, CAS #, and molecular formula and safety data, research and properties are
available for many specific states, forms and shapes on the product pages listed to the left. Elemental or metallic forms include pellets, rod, wire and granules for evaporation source material purposes. Nanoparticles and nanopowders provide ultra high surface area which nanotechnology research and recent experiments demonstrate function to create new and unique properties and benefits.
Oxides are available in forms includingpowders and dense pellets for such uses as optical coating and thin film applications. Oxides tend to be insoluble.Fluorides are another insoluble form for uses in which oxygen is undesirable such as metallurgy, chemical and physical vapor  deposition and in some optical coatings. Bismuth is available in soluble forms including chlorides, nitrates and acetates. These compounds are also manufactured as solutions at specified stoichiometries.
Bismuth is a Block P, Group 15, Period 6 element. The number of electrons in each of Bismuth's shells is 2, 8, 18, 32, 18, 5 and its electronic configuration is [Xe] 4f14 5d10 6s2 6p3. In its elemental form bismuth's CAS number is 7440-69-9. The bismuth atom has a radius of 154.5.pm and it's Van der Waals radius is 200.pm. Bismuth is not toxic.
 All elemental metals, compounds and solutions may be synthesized in ultra high purity (e.g. 99.999%) for laboratory standards, advanced electronic, thin fillm deposition using sputtering targets and evaporation materials, metallurgy and optical materials and other high technology applications. Information is provided for stable (non-radioactive) isotopes. Organo-Metallic Bismuth compounds are soluble in organic or non-aqueous solvents. See Analytical Services for information on available certified chemical and physical analysis techniques including MS-ICP, X-Ray Diffraction, PSD and Surface Area (BET) analysis.
Bismuth is found in bismuthinite and bismite. It is also produced as a byproduct of lead, copper, tin, molybdenum and tungsten extraction. Bismuth was first discovered by Early Man.
The name Bismuth originates from the German word 'wissmuth' meaning white mass.
 Bismuth |
 Bismut |
 Bismuto |
 Bismuto |
 Bismuto |
 Vismut |
Abundance. The following table shows the abundance of bismuth and each of its naturally occurring isotopes on Earth along with the atomic mass for each isotope.
| Isotope |
Atomic Mass |
% Abundance on Earth |
| Bi-209 |
208.980383 |
100 |
The following table shows the abundance of Bismuth present in the human body and in the universe scaled to parts per billion (ppb) by weight and by atom:
| |
Typical Human Body |
Universe |
| by Weight |
300 ppb |
10 ppb |
| by Atom |
14 ppb |
0.09 ppb |
Safety Data and Biological Role. The safety data for bismuth metal, nanoparticles and its compounds can vary widely depending on the form. For potential hazard information, toxicity, and road, sea and air transportation limitations, such as DOT Hazard Class, DOT Number, EU Number, NFPA Health rating and RTECS Class, please see the specific material or compound referenced in the left margin. Bismuth compounds have no biological role. Bismuth has, however, been used in medications to treat stomach upset and, in combination with antibiotics, stomach ulcers. Bismuth compounds can also be found in creams used to treat hemorrhoids.
Ionization Energy. The ionization energy for bismuth (the least required energy to release a single electron from the atom in it's ground state in the gas phase) is stated in the following table:
| 1st Ionization Energy |
702.96 kJ mol-1 |
| 2nd Ionization Energy |
1610.35 kJ mol-1 |
| 3rd Ionization Energy |
2466.18 kJ mol-1 |
Conductivity. As to bismuth's electrical and thermal conductivity, the electrical conductivity measured as to electrical resistivity @ 20 ºC is 106.8 μΩcm and its electronegativities (or its ability to draw electrons relative to other elements) is 1.9. The thermal conductivity of bismuth is 7.87 W m-1 K-1.
Thermal Properties. The melting point and boiling point for bismuth are stated below. The following chart sets forth the heat of fusion, heat of vaporization and heat of atomization.
| Heat of Fusion |
10.48 kJ mol-1 |
| Heat of Vaporization |
179.1 kJ mol-1 |
| Heat of Atomization |
207.36 kJ mol-1 |
Recent Research & Development for Bismuth[Ru(2) Bi(14) Br(4) ](AlCl(4) )(4) by Mobilization and Reorganization of Complex Clusters in Ionic Liquids.
Groh MF, Isaeva A, Ruck M.
Chemistry. 2012 Jul 27. doi: 10.1002/chem.201201038. [Epub ahead of print]
PMID:
22837108
[PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Influence of photon energy cuts on PET Monte Carlo simulation results.
Mitev K, Gerganov G, Kirov AS, Schmidtlein CR, Madzhunkov Y, Kawrakow I.
Med Phys. 2012 Jul;39(7):4175-86.
PMID:
22830751
[PubMed - in process]
Chemical and Photochemical Functionality of the First Molecular Bismuth Vanadium Oxide.
Tucher J, Nye LC, Ivanovic-Burmazovic I, Notarnicola A, Streb C.
Chemistry. 2012 Jul 24. doi: 10.1002/chem.201200404. [Epub ahead of print]
PMID:
22829485
[PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Structural and Electrical Characterization of Bi(2)Se(3) Nanostructures Grown by Metalorganic Chemical Vapor Deposition.
Alegria L, Schroer M, Chatterjee A, Poirier G, Pretko M, Patel S, Petta J.
Nano Lett. 2012 Jul 25. [Epub ahead of print]
PMID:
22827514
[PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Bismuth-catalyzed and doped silicon nanowires for one-pump-down fabrication of radial junction solar cells.
Yu L, Fortuna F, O'Donnell B, Jeon T, Foldyna M, Picardi G, Roca I Cabarrocas P.
Nano Lett. 2012 Jul 23. [Epub ahead of print]
PMID:
22822909
[PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Cadmium determination in natural water samples with an automatic multisyringe flow injection system coupled to a flow-through screen printed electrode.
Henríquez C, Laglera LM, Alpizar MJ, Calvo J, Arduini F, Cerdà V.
Talanta. 2012 Jul 15;96:140-6. Epub 2012 Jan 20.
PMID:
22817941
[PubMed - in process]
On-line preconcentration and determination of lead and cadmium by sequential injection/anodic stripping voltammetry.
Ninwong B, Chuanuwatanakul S, Chailapakul O, Dungchai W, Motomizu S.
Talanta. 2012 Jul 15;96:75-81. Epub 2012 Apr 24.
PMID:
22817931
[PubMed - in process]
Hydrosilane and bismuth-accelerated palladium catalyzed aerobic oxidative esterification of benzylic alcohols with air.
Bai XF, Ye F, Zheng LS, Lai GQ, Xia CG, Xu LW.
Chem Commun (Camb). 2012 Jul 20. [Epub ahead of print]
PMID:
22814568
[PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Emission of fluorescent x-radiation from non-lead based shielding materials of protective clothing: a radiobiological problem?
Schmid E, Panzer W, Schlattl H, Eder H.
J Radiol Prot. 2012 Jul 19;32(3):N129-N139. [Epub ahead of print]
PMID:
22809876
[PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Bismuth nanoparticles for phenolic compounds biosensing application.
Mayorga-Martinez CC, Cadevall M, Guix M, Ros J, Merkoçi A.
Biosens Bioelectron. 2012 Jun 23. [Epub ahead of print]
PMID:
22809524
[PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Helicobacter pylori and recurrent abdominal pain in children: is there any relation?
Mansour MM, Al Hadidi KhM, Omar MA.
Trop Gastroenterol. 2012 Jan-Mar;33(1):55-61.
PMID:
22803297
[PubMed - in process]
In vitro cytotoxicity of surface modified bismuth nanoparticles.
Luo Y, Wang C, Qiao Y, Hossain M, Ma L, Su M.
J Mater Sci Mater Med. 2012 Jul 17. [Epub ahead of print]
PMID:
22802106
[PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
The Optimal First-Line Therapy of Helicobacter pylori Infection in Year 2012.
Kuo CH, Kuo FC, Hu HM, Liu CJ, Wang SS, Chen YH, Hsieh MC, Hou MF, Wu DC.
Gastroenterol Res Pract. 2012;2012:168361. Epub 2012 Jun 27.
PMID:
22792095
[PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Free PMC Article
Electrodes with extremely high hydrogen overvoltages as substrate electrodes for stripping analysis based on bismuth-coated electrodes.
Tian Y, Hu L, Han S, Yuan Y, Wang J, Xu G.
Anal Chim Acta. 2012 Aug 13;738:41-4. Epub 2012 Jun 14.
PMID:
22790698
[PubMed - in process]
[Jinghuaweikang capsules combined with triple therapy in the treatment of Helicobacter pylori associated gastritis and duodenal ulcer and analysis of antibiotic resistance: a multicenter, randomized, controlled, clinical study].
Hu FL, Cheng H, Zhang XZ, An HJ, Sheng JQ, Lü NH, Xie Y, Chen ZS, Xu JM, Hu NZ, Zheng PY, Zhang L, Zhang LX, Zhang SS, Tao L, Zhang ZY, Cui MH, Yang GB, Wang BM, Jiang K, Yang Q, Gao HJ.
Zhonghua Yi Xue Za Zhi. 2012 Mar 13;92(10):679-84. Chinese.
PMID:
22781295
[PubMed - in process]
Helicobacter??pylori Eradication Therapies in the Era of Increasing Antibiotic Resistance: A Paradigm Shift to Improved Efficacy.
Georgopoulos SD, Papastergiou V, Karatapanis S.
Gastroenterol Res Pract. 2012;2012:757926. Epub 2012 Jun 19.
PMID:
22778723
[PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Free PMC Article
In Vivo Differentiation of Complementary Contrast Media at Dual-Energy CT.
Mongan J, Rathnayake S, Fu Y, Wang R, Jones EF, Gao DW, Yeh BM.
Radiology. 2012 Jul 10. [Epub ahead of print]
PMID:
22778447
[PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
X-ray enabled detection and eradication of circulating tumor cells with nanoparticles.
Hossain M, Luo Y, Sun Z, Wang C, Zhang M, Fu H, Qiao Y, Su M.
Biosens Bioelectron. 2012 Jun 23. [Epub ahead of print]
PMID:
22776179
[PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
A new study on bismuth doped oxide glasses.
Xu W, Peng M, Ma Z, Dong G, Qiu J.
Opt Express. 2012 Jul 2;20(14):15692-702. doi: 10.1364/OE.20.015692.
PMID:
22772261
[PubMed - in process]
Part two: Analytical optimisation of a procedure for lead detection in milk by means of bismuth-modified screen-printed electrodes.
Quintana JC, Arduini F, Amine A, van Velzen K, Palleschi G, Moscone D.
Anal Chim Acta. 2012 Jul 29;736:92-9. Epub 2012 May 30.
PMID:
22769010
[PubMed - in process] |
