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Bismuth
A species of Arsenic Group Scientific name : Bismuth Mineral Group : Arsenic Group
Bismuth, A species of Arsenic Group
Scientific name: Bismuth
Mineral Group: Arsenic Group
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Description
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Bismuth is a crystalline white metal that forms into interesting step pyramid shapes and oxidizes into a variety of colors when heated and cooled. It is used to manufacture fire extinguishers, fire sprinkler systems, ammunition. Although bismuth is mined in several countries, only Bolivia has a mine where it is the primary mineral extracted.
Physical Properties
Colors
Reddish-white to creamy-white, pinkish, yellowish, bluish
Luster
Metallic
Diaphaneity
Opaque
Chemical Properties
Chemical Classification
NativeElements
Formula
Bi
Elements listed
Bi
Common Impurities
Fe,Te,As,S,Sb
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People often ask
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General Info
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Price
Usage
Bismuth compounds account for about half the production of bismuth. They are used in cosmetics, pigments, and a few pharmaceuticals, notably bismuth subsalicylate, used to treat diarrhea. Bismuth's unusual propensity to expand as it solidifies is responsible for some of its uses, such as in the casting of printing type. Bismuth has unusually low toxicity for a heavy metal. As the toxicity of lead has become more apparent in recent years, there is an increasing use of bismuth alloys (presently about a third of bismuth production) as a replacement for lead.
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Formation
In the Earth's crust, bismuth is about twice as abundant as gold. The most important ores of bismuth are bismuthinite and bismite. Native bismuth is known from Australia, Bolivia, and China. The difference between mining and refining production reflects bismuth's status as a byproduct of extraction of other metals such as lead, copper, tin, molybdenum and tungsten. World bismuth production from refineries is a more complete and reliable statistic. Bismuth travels in crude lead bullion (which can contain up to 10% bismuth) through several stages of refining, until it is removed by the Kroll-Betterton process which separates the impurities as slag, or the electrolytic Betts process. Bismuth will behave similarly with another of its major metals, copper. The raw bismuth metal from both processes contains still considerable amounts of other metals, foremost lead. By reacting the molten mixture with chlorine gas the metals are converted to their chlorides while bismuth remains unchanged. Impurities can also be removed by various other methods for example with fluxes and treatments yielding high-purity bismuth metal (over 99% Bi).
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How to identify it?
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