Bismuth is a white, crystalline, brittle metal with a pinkish tinge. Bismuth is the most
diamagnetic of all metals, and the thermal conductivity is lower than any metal. It occurs
naturally in the metallic state and in minerals such as bismite. The most important ores
are bismuthinite or bismuth glance and bismite, and countries such as Peru, Japan, Mexico,
Bolivia, and Canada are major producers of bismuth. It is found as crystals in the sulphide
ores of nickel, cobalt, silver, and tin. Bismuth is mainly produced as a by-product from lead
and copper smelting. It is insoluble in hot or cold water. Bismuth explodes if mixed with
chloric or perchloric acid. Molten bismuth explodes and bismuth powder glows red-hot on
contact with concentrated nitric acid. It is flammable in powder form.
Bismuth is used in the manufacture of low melting solders and fusible alloys; as key
components of thermoelectric safety appliances, such as automatic shut-offs for gas and
electric water-heating systems and safety plugs in compressed gas cylinders; in the production
of shot and shotguns; in pharmaceuticals; in the manufacturing of acrylonitrile;
and as the starting material for synthetic fibres and rubbers. Bismuth oxychloride is sometimes
used in cosmetics. Also bismuth subnitrate and bismuth subcarbonate are used in
medicine. Bismuth subsalicylate is used as an anti-diarrhoeal and as a treatment of some
other gastrointestinal diseases.
