Bi
Bismuth
Element 83 · Post-transition metal
Bismuth (Bi)
Bismuth is a brittle, silvery metal with a pink tinge. It forms spectacular iridescent “staircase” crystals.
- Post-transition metal
- Period 6
- Group 15
- p-block
- solid at room temperature
- ☢ Radioactive
Key properties
- Atomic mass
- 208.9804
- u
- Electron configuration
- [Xe] 4f14 5d10 6s2 6p3
- Melting point
- 271.4 °C
- 544.55 K
- Boiling point
- 1,563.9 °C
- 1,837 K
- Density
- 9.807 g/cm³
- Electronegativity
- 2.02
- Pauling
- Atomic radius
- 207 pm
- van der Waals
- 1st ionisation energy
- 7.289 eV
Compare with every element:Electronegativity chartAtomic radius chartIonisation energy chartDensity chart of the elementsMelting point chartElectron configuration chart
Did you know?
Notable facts about bismuth
- 01
Bismuth-209 was found to be radioactive in 2003, with a half-life a billion times the age of the universe.
- 02
Bismuth is one of the least toxic heavy metals and is the active ingredient in Pepto-Bismol.
- 03
It is the most diamagnetic metal — it is pushed away by magnets.
Applications
What is bismuth used for?
- Stomach remedies
- Lead-free solder and shot
- Cosmetics pigments
- Fire sprinkler fuses
History
Discovery & name origin
Discovered by
Year
Where
France
Name origin
German Wismut, possibly “white mass”.
Atomic structure
Atomic properties
Atomic structure
Atomic properties
- Atomic number
- 83
- Atomic mass
- 208.9804 u
- Group
- 15
- Period
- 6
- Block
- p-block
- Electron configuration
- [Xe] 4f14 5d10 6s2 6p3
- Full configuration
- 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 4s2 3d10 4p6 5s2 4d10 5p6 6s2 4f14 5d10 6p3
- Electrons per shell
- 2, 8, 18, 32, 18, 5
- Electronegativity (Pauling)
- 2.02
- Electron affinity
- 0.946 eV
- Atomic radius (van der Waals)
- 207 pm
- Stable isotopes
- None — all isotopes are radioactive
Oxidation states
Highlighted: common oxidation states (+5, +3).
Successive ionisation energies
Energy to remove each electron in turn (kJ/mol). Big jumps show where a new, inner shell begins.
- 1st703
- 2nd1,610
- 3rd2,466
- 4th4,370
- 5th5,400
- 6th8,520
Physical
Physical properties & colour
Physical
Physical properties & colour
- State at 20 °C
- Solid
- Melting point
- 544.55 K · 271.4 °C · 520.5 °F
- Boiling point
- 1,837 K · 1,563.9 °C · 2,846.9 °F
- Density
- 9.807 g/cm³
- Molar heat capacity
- 25.52 J/(mol·K)
- Appearance
- Lustrous silver
- CPK model colour
- Copied
The CPK colour is the convention used for this element’s atoms in molecular models.
FAQ
Bismuth questions
What is Bi on the periodic table?
Bi is the symbol for bismuth, element 83 on the periodic table. It sits in group 15, period 6, in the post-transition metal category, and has an atomic mass of 208.9804.
What is the atomic number of bismuth?
Bismuth has atomic number 83, so every bismuth atom has 83 protons in its nucleus. Its symbol is Bi and its atomic mass is 208.9804.
Who discovered bismuth?
Bismuth was discovered by Claude François Geoffroy in 1753 (France). The name comes from German Wismut, possibly “white mass”.
What is bismuth used for?
Bismuth is used for: stomach remedies; lead-free solder and shot; cosmetics pigments; fire sprinkler fuses.
Is bismuth a metal?
Yes. Bismuth is a post-transition metal, one of the metallic elements.
What is the electron configuration of bismuth?
The electron configuration of bismuth is [Xe] 4f14 5d10 6s2 6p3. Its 83 electrons are arranged in shells as 2, 8, 18, 32, 18, 5.