This first part was taken from "A Concise Dictionary
of Chemistry" published by the Oxford University
Press in 1990.
Bismuth: symbol Bi. A white crystalline metal with a
pinkish tinge belonging to *group V of the periodic
table; atomic number 83; atomic weight 208.98; r.d.
9.78; melting point 271.3 deg C; Boiling point 1560
deg C. The most important ores are bismuthinite
(Bi2S3) and bismite (Bi2O3). Peru, Japan, Mexico,
Bolivia, and Canada are major producers. The metal is
extracted by carbon reduction of its oxide. Bismuth
is the most diamagnetic of all metals and its thermal
conductivity is lower than any other metal except
mercury. The metal has a high electrical resistance
and a high Hall effect when placed in magnetic fields.
It is used to make low-melting point casting alloys
with tin and cadmium. These alloys expand on
solidification to give clear replication of intricate
features. It is also used to make thermally active
safety devices for fire protection and sprinkler
systems. More recent applications include its use
as a catalyst for making acrylic fibers, as a
constituent of malleable iron, as a carrier of
uranium-235 fuel in nuclear reactors, and as a
specialized thermocouple material. Bismuth compounds
(when lead-free) are used for cosmetics and medical
preparations. It is attacked by oxidizing acids,
steam (at high temps), and by moist halogens. It
burns in air with a blue flame to produce yellow
oxide fumes. C. G. Junine first demonstrated that
it was different from lead in 1753
The next listing of facts was taken from:
"Marks' Standard Handbook for Mech Engineers"
ninth edition.
Bismuth:
Density: 0.354 lb/in^3
0.029 specific heat
22.5 latent heat of fusion, Btu/lb
7.4 linear coef of thermal expansion per
deg F * 10^-6
58 thermal conductivity (near 68 deg F)
Btu/(ft^2)(hr)(deg F/in)
106.8 Elect resistance uOhm * cm
4.6 modulus of elasticity (tension)
lb/in^2 * 10^6
Rhom - crystal structure
Hope this info helps those of you looking for it.
Garrett Herning
herning@uwplatt.edu
http://vms.www.uwplatt.edu/~herning/