Bismuth (Bi)
"The Iridescent Guardian, Bismuth gleams with a rainbow shield, silently protecting us from heavy metal dangers and upset tummies, proving that true power can be both beautiful and nearly everlasting."
A memorable persona to anchor Bi in your mind.
9.78
Grams per cm³
271.406
Celsius (°C)
207
Radius (pm)
Daily Life Link
The secret ingredient in that pink potion for an upset stomach.
Discovery & History
Year Discovered
1753
Discovered By
Claude François Geoffroy
Origin of Name
"The name come from the German 'Bisemutum' a corruption of 'Weisse Masse' meaning white mass."
Technical Properties
Atomic Mass
208.98 u
Standard State
solid
Boiling Point
1564°C
Electron Configuration
[Xe] 4f145d106s26p3
1st Ionization Energy
7.289 eV
Electron Affinity
N/A
Oxidation States
"Shiny, silvery-pink with an incredible iridescent rainbow sheen, often forming geometric, staircase-shaped crystals."
Did You Know?
The Rainbow Element: Bismuth's most famous party trick is its incredible iridescent, rainbow-like surface colors, caused by a thin layer of oxidation!
Practically Immortal: For centuries, Bismuth was thought to be the heaviest *stable* element. We now know its most common isotope, Bismuth-209, is *extremely* weakly radioactive, but its half-life is over a billion times the age of the universe – so, for all practical purposes, it's basically immortal!
Stomach Soother: Ever had an upset tummy? Bismuth subsalicylate is the active ingredient in many antacids, like Pepto-Bismol, helping you feel better.
Crystal Craze: You can easily grow your own stunning, staircase-shaped Bismuth crystals at home! Its unique structure forms these geometric wonders as it cools.