Nomenclature
CAS number: 7440-69-9
Description and references
Bi; at. wt 208.98040; at. no. 83; valence 3,
5. Group VA (15). One naturally occurring isotope: 209; artificial
radioactive isotopes: 199-208; 210-215. Confused with tin until
1450. First isolated by Hillot in 1737. It was, however, Geoffrey
the Younger who clearly proved its individuality in 1753. Pott and
Bergmann are named as the scientific discoverers. Occurrence in the
earth's crust: approx 0.2 ppm. Obtained as a byproduct from the
processing of lead, copper, and tin ores. Reviews: Nouveau Traité de Chimie Minérale, tome 11, P. Pascal, Ed. (Masson, Paris, 1958); Gmelins, Bismuth (8th ed.) 19, pp 1-104 (1927); supplement, pp 1-621 (1964); Smith, “Arsenic, Antimony
and Bismuth” in Comprehensive Inorganic Chemistry vol. 2, J. C. Bailar, Jr. et al., Eds. (Pergamon
Press, Oxford, 1973) pp 547-683; S. C. Carapella, H. E. Howe in Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology vol. 3 (Wiley-Interscience, New York, 3rd ed., 1978)
pp 912-921.
Properties
Grayish-white with reddish tinge and bright metallic
luster; soft and brittle; superficially oxidized by air, frequently
becoming iridescent. mp 271°; contracts when melted. bp 1420°; bp 1490°: Gmelins, p. 43. d420 9.78; d4271 10.07. Poor conductor of electricity. Has the greatest
Hall effect of any metal, i.e., its resistance increases
when placed in a magnetic field. Attacked by dil HNO3,
hot H2SO4, concd HCl. Cold solns of Bi give
a white ppt with NaOH, turning yellow on boiling; with HCl a white
ppt sol in excess of acid. The solns in HCl or HNO3 yield
with much water a white ppt blackened by H2S (different
from Sb).Derivative
Precipitated bismuth.
Properties
Prepd by treating a soln of bismuth chloride in
HCl with hypophosphorous acid, washing and drying. Contains not less
than 98.5% metallic bismuth. Dull gray powder. The particles are
of no greater diameter than 15 microns (0.015 mm). Easily dispersed
in water.Derivative
D'Arcet metal-fusible.
Properties
An alloy of 49.2% Bi, 32.2% Pb and 18.4% Sn.
Whitish-gray metal, mp 96-97°.Use
Manuf Bi salts, fusible alloys, stereotype metal,
fusible boiler plugs, electric fuses, low-melting solders; tempering
baths for steel; “silvering” mirrors; in dental technique.
Therapeutic Category (Veterinary)
Has been used externally in dusting powders
for indolent, moist or suppurating lesions; internally as a protectant
of the gastrointestinal lining, and as an x-ray contrast medium.
Has also been recommended to treat buccal warts in dogs.