Bismuth (Bi)
Bismuth forms stunning rainbow-colored hopper crystals and is the active ingredient in Pepto-Bismol.
Properties of Bismuth
- Atomic number
- 83
- Category
- Post-Transition Metal
- Atomic mass
- 208.98 u
- Electron configuration
- [Xe] 4f¹⁴ 5d¹⁰ 6s² 6p³
- Melting point
- 544.7 K (271.55 °C)
- Boiling point
- 1837 K (1563.85 °C)
- Density
- 9.807 g/cm³
- Electronegativity (Pauling)
- 2.02
- Appearance
- Lustrous reddish-white metal
- Discovered by
- Claude François Geoffroy (1753)
Facts about Bismuth
- Bismuth crystals are some of the most beautiful in nature — they form rainbow-colored staircases!
- Pepto-Bismol contains bismuth — that's the "Bismol" part!
- Bismuth is the most naturally diamagnetic metal — it repels magnets!
- Bismuth expands when it freezes, just like water!