Bismuth
Bismuth (铋, symbol Bi) is chemical element number 83, a Post-Transition Metal in period 6, group 15 of the periodic table, with a standard atomic weight of about 208.98. Brittle, crystalline metal with iridescent oxide. Used in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals.
Properties
| Atomic number | 83 |
|---|---|
| Symbol | Bi |
| Atomic mass | 208.98 u |
| Category | Post-Transition Metal |
| Period | 6 |
| Group | 15 |
| Electron configuration | [Xe] 4f¹⁴ 5d¹⁰ 6s² 6p³ |
| Electronegativity | 2.02 |
| Covalent radius | 148 pm |
| Density | 9.807 g/cm³ |
| Melting point | 544.7 K |
| Boiling point | 1837 K |
| Discovery | Claude François Geoffroy, 1753 |
Overview
Brittle, crystalline metal with iridescent oxide. Used in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. Bismuth (Bi) holds position 83 in the periodic table, a Post-Transition Metal in period 6, group 15. As a post-transition metal it is fairly soft with a low melting point, turning up in alloys, solders and coatings.
Its electron configuration is [Xe] 4f¹⁴ 5d¹⁰ 6s² 6p³, with 5 electrons in the outer shell, and an electronegativity of about 2.02 (Pauling). Around 25 °C it is usually a solid; it melts near 544.7 K (271.6 °C), boils near 1837 K (1563.9 °C), has a density around 9.807 g/cm³.
In industry and daily life it turns up in Medical / Pharma, Structural / Alloys and Pigments / Glass. It was first described by Claude François Geoffroy in 1753. Use the comparison tool to line it up against other elements.
Electron shells
Electrons per shell: 2 · 8 · 18 · 32 · 18 · 5
Main uses
- Medical / Pharma
- Structural / Alloys
- Pigments / Glass
Hazard
Compounds containing Bismuth
No compounds in this knowledge base contain Bismuth yet.
Data sources
Atomic mass uses IUPAC (CIAAW) standard atomic weights; the covalent radius is from Cordero et al. (2008). Verify on the RSC Periodic Table, PubChem and Wikipedia. Educational reference only.