Like antimony, bismuth is a silvery white semi-metal that rarely occurs as a native element.
It is found typically in high-temperature veins along with quartz, and minerals formed by
metals such as cobalt, silver, iron and lead, or along the edge of granite intrusions where
they meet limestone. More commonly, bismuth occurs in its main ore minerals, bisrnurhinire
and bismite. The name bismuth probably comes from the German for 'white mass' - although
thefamous chemist Paracelsus said it came from the German for 'white
meadow', because it was found in the fields of Saxony. Like antimony,
bismuthshares with water the rare quality of expanding rather
than comracring as it freezes. This property makes it very
useful in soldering, because it expands to fill gaps as it
solidifies. Because it is non-toxic, bismuth has
replaced lead in many uses such as plumbing.
Its low melting point makes it the perfecr
plug for fire-sprinkler systems. It is also
used as a medicine for stomach upsets.
9.
Identification: Bismuth exhibits a rainbow-
coloured iridescent tarnish and has a pink tinge
when freshly broken.