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Bismuth is a metallic element commonly used in industrial applications, found in minerals and pure form. It is identified as Bi on the periodic table and has a low toxicity. Bismuth is used as a substitute for lead in metal alloys and solders, in fire detection devices, and as a carrier for nuclear fuel. Its compounds can be toxic, so safety precautions should be taken when working with it.
Bismuth is a metallic chemical element classified in the group of elements colloquially known as “poor elements” in the periodic table. This element has a number of uses, making it common in industrial applications. Many consumers own products that contain bismuth, even if they don’t necessarily interact directly with the element. Most of the world’s supply comes from South America and is also extracted as a by-product from the smelting of some metals.
In addition to being found in various minerals, bismuth is also found in pure form in nature. When pure, the element is white with a reddish tinge, and sometimes almost pink. It has a crystalline chemical structure that makes it extremely brittle, and it is quite unique among the elements in having a liquid state that is denser than its solid; water shares this interesting property. On the periodic table of elements, bismuth is identified as Bi and the element has an atomic number of 83.
The name of this element comes from the German Wismuth, which derives from weiße Masse, which means “white mass”. The element was known in the ancient world, although it was sometimes confused with tin and lead. By the 1400s, people had begun to suspect bismuth was a distinct chemical element, but it wasn’t isolated until 1753. Claud Geoffroy is typically credited with identifying it as an element.
One of the more modern uses of bismuth is as a substitute for the more toxic lead in metal alloys and solders. It is also used in fire detection devices because it has a very low melting point. The element’s poor heat conduction and high electrical resistance make it useful for an assortment of applications, and the element is also used as a carrier for nuclear fuel. Some bismuth salts are also used in cosmetics and some medicines.
This element is of low toxicity. As a general rule, people should avoid ingesting it and should wash their hands after working with it. Wear face protection when melting or cutting bismuth to avoid inhaling harmful fumes and vapors. Because some of its compounds can be toxic, consumers are also advised to follow all warnings and safety directions on products that contain these compounds.
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