I’m a big fan of metals.
Really, it can be any kind of metal, I just love them all.
Lists are good, too, so today I’m going to make a list about my second-favorite metal, bismuth.
Bismuth is Crazy Beautiful!
- Bismuth grows into big, beautiful crystals like the one in the picture above if it is cooled (from its relatively-low molten point of 520° F) very slowly.
- The symbol for Bismuth is Bi.
- The atomic number of Bismuth is 83.
- Bismuth is the most naturally diamagnetic metal.
- Bismuth subgallate is the active ingredient in a drug that is used to make stinky farts less stinky. Ewww…
- Bismuth is used in Pepto Bismol and Kaopectate to make tummies feel better and diarrhea go away (who ever thought I’d use the word “diarrhea” in my blog?).
- Because of its low melting point, it’s often used in alloys used to build fire suppression systems.
- Bismuth is used in iridescent glazes. As it should be. Look at all the pretty colors!
- It is used in Dragon’s Eggs, a type of pyrotechnic that crackles and shimmers.
- Bismuth is considered the least toxic of the heavy metals. It remains in the body only 5 days, though it can stick around in the kidneys for a while if you are treated with it heavily.
- You still shouldn’t eat too much of it, as it can poison you in large doses!
- Bismuth is being used in many countries to replace lead shot in hunting. It doesn’t, of course, cause lead poisoning in birds who ingest it accidentally, thinking it’s dirt or small rocks that they require to help with their digestion processes.
- Bismuth is a little brittle, it will break, and it does not fracture cleanly.
- Bismuth is pretty.
I hope you like bismuth as much as I do!
