Where is bismuth commonly found

Bismuth carbonate Bi 2 CO 3 3 is used to treat diarrhea and gastric ulcers. Once thought to be the heaviest stable isotope to exist in nature, experiments conducted in showed that bismuth is unstable and decays into thallium through alpha decay. Bismuth has a half-life of roughly 19,,,,,, years. Estimated Crustal Abundance : 8. Number of Stable Isotopes : 0 View all isotope data. Electron Shell Configuration :. Bismuth Previous Isotopes Next. Though bismuth had been known as early as , it was frequently confused with lead because it was similarly a heavy metal with a low melting point, according to the Royal Society of Chemistry.

French chemist Claude Geoffroy the Younger was the first to prove that bismuth was distinct from lead in The word "bismuth" is a Latinized version of an Old German word, "weissmuth" or "white substance," possibly named after the element's white oxide, according to Chemicool.

Naturally occurring bismuth is found in small quantities throughout Earth's crust both as a pure metal and combined with other elements in various compounds.

Bismuth is typically obtained as a by-product in refining lead, copper, tin, silver, and gold ores found in Bolivia, Peru, Japan, Mexico, and Canada.

Compared to other metals, bismuth is the most diamagnetic; that is, it resists being magnetized and is repelled by a magnetic field, according to Chemicool.

It also has low electric conductivity and the greatest electrical resistance when placed in a magnetic field, a trait called the Hall effect. It has a very low thermal conductivity — lower than any other metal except mercury, according to Chemicool.

It also has a relatively low melting point, especially when alloyed with tin and lead. Bismuth burns with a blue flame and clouds of yellow oxide when heated in air, according to Robert E. Although Bismuth is not an economical element to mine it is more commonly produced as a byproduct during the processing of other metal ores.

Bismuth is a recognised toxic element, and is not a recognised carcinogen however some of its compounds need to be handled with care due to their corrosiveness e. Overexposure to bismuth can lead to the formation of a black deposit on the gingiva this is known as a bismuth line.

Bismuth and its salts can lead to kidney damage, albeit usually to a mild degree. However large doses can be fatal, although industrially it is considered one of the less toxic heavy metals. Inhalation of bismuth may affect both the liver and kidneys. Direct contact with bismuth may cause irritation to the eyes and skin. PSA - information on bismuth www. Quick Facts: Bismuth gets its name from the German word "wissmuth" meaning white mass and the latin word bisemutum.