Bismuth (Bi) – Periodic Table [Element Information & More]

Bismuth element (Bi) is in group 15 and period 6 of a periodic table. Bismuth is in the p-block and it is classified as a post-transition element on the periodic table.

There is a lot more information related to bismuth which is mentioned in the Information Table given below.

So let’s dive right into it!

Table of contents

• Bismuth element (Information Table)
• Bismuth element in Periodic table
• Facts about Bismuth
• Properties of Bismuth
• Uses of Bismuth

Bismuth Element (Information Table)

The important data related to bismuth element is given in the table below.

Appearance of bismuth	Silvery brown appearance
Atomic number of bismuth	83
Symbol of bismuth	Bi
Atomic mass of bismuth	208.98 u
Protons, Neutrons & Electrons in bismuth	Protons: 83, Neutrons: 126, Electrons: 83
State of bismuth (at STP)	Solid
Group number of bismuth in periodic table	15
Period number of bismuth in periodic table	6
Block of bismuth in periodic table	p-block
Category of bismuth	Post transition element (pnictogens)
Bohr model or Electrons per shell or Electrons arrangement in bismuth	2, 8, 18, 32, 18, 5
Electron configuration of bismuth	[Xe] 4f14 5d10 6s2 6p3
Orbital diagram of bismuth
Valence electrons in bismuth	5
Electronegativity of bismuth (on pauling scale)	2.02
Atomic radius of bismuth (van der Waals radius)	207 picometers
Density of bismuth	9.78 g/cm3
1st ionization energy of bismuth	7.289 eV
Main isotope of bismuth	209Bi
Melting point of bismuth	544.7 K or 271.5 °C or 520.7 °F
Boiling point of bismuth	1837 K or 1564 °C or 2847 °F
Crystal structure of bismuth	Rhombohedral

Also see: Interactive Periodic Table (It has rotating bohr models as well as many other details of all the 118 elements in a single periodic table).

Bismuth element in Periodic table

The Bismuth element (Bi) has the atomic number 83 and is located in group 15 and period 6. Bismuth is a metal and it is classified as a post-transition element.

Click on above elements in the periodic table to see their information.

Facts about bismuth

Here are a few interesting facts about the bismuth element.

1. Bismuth was given its name from the old German word “weissmuth”, meaning white substance.
2. The bismuth element is present in the earth’s crust in the concentration of 9 parts per billion by weight.
3. Around 9000 tons of bismuth is produced in the world annually.
4. Bismuth expands on freezing. (This property is also seen in gallium, silicon, germanium and antimony).
5. Bismuth sulfide is the ore of bismuth from which the majority of bismuth metal is extracted.

Properties of bismuth

Here is a list of some physical properties and chemical properties of bismuth.

Physical properties of bismuth

• Bismuth has a silvery-brown appearance.
• Bismuth is diamagnetic in nature.
• Bismuth is a poor conductor of electricity and heat.
• The melting point of bismuth is 544.7 K and its boiling point is 1837 K respectively.
• There are many isotopes of bismuth and out of those isotopes, the most abundant isotope is ²⁰⁹Bi.
• Bismuth has a rhombohedral crystal structure.

Chemical properties of bismuth

• Bismuth does not react with air at room temperature.
• Bismuth can be dissolved in concentrated H₂SO₄ as well as HCl.
• Bismuth also reacts with halogens and forms bismuth (III) halides.
• Bismuth reacts with water to form bismuth (III) oxide. This reaction takes place at higher temperatures.

Uses of bismuth

Here are some uses of the bismuth element.

• Bismuth is used in making alloys that require a lower melting point.
• The compounds of bismuth are also used in making lubrication grease.
• Bismuth is also used in making pigments as well as in cosmetics.
• Bismuth compounds are used as a catalyst while making acrylic fibers.
• Bismuth is also used in some medicines.

External resources:

1. Bismuth – Element information, properties and uses | Periodic Table. (n.d.). Bismuth – Element Information, Properties and Uses | Periodic Table. https://www.rsc.org/periodic-table/element/83/bismuth
2. Bismuth – Wikipedia. (2020, April 7). Bismuth – Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bismuth
3. P. (n.d.). Bismuth | Bi (Element) – PubChem. Bismuth | Bi (Element) – PubChem. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/element/Bismuth
4. It’s Elemental – The Element Bismuth. (n.d.). It’s Elemental – the Element Bismuth. https://education.jlab.org/itselemental/ele083.html
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10. Atomic Weight of Bismuth | Commission on Isotopic Abundances and Atomic Weights. (n.d.). Atomic Weight of Bismuth | Commission on Isotopic Abundances and Atomic Weights. https://ciaaw.org/bismuth.htm
11. Atomic Data for Bismuth (Bi). (n.d.). Atomic Data for Bismuth (Bi). https://physics.nist.gov/PhysRefData/Handbook/Tables/bismuthtable1.htm
12. Bismuth Statistics and Information | U.S. Geological Survey. (n.d.). Bismuth Statistics and Information | U.S. Geological Survey. https://www.usgs.gov/centers/national-minerals-information-center/bismuth-statistics-and-information
13. Possolo, et al. (2018, January 4). Interpreting and propagating the uncertainty of the standard atomic weights (IUPAC Technical Report). Pure and Applied Chemistry, 90(2), 395–424. https://doi.org/10.1515/pac-2016-0402
14. Emsley, J. (2011). Nature’s Building Blocks: An A-Z Guide to the Elements. United Kingdom: OUP Oxford.
15. Haynes, W. M. (Ed.). (2014, June 4). CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics. https://doi.org/10.1201/b17118
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