bismuth

[ biz-muhth ]

noun

, Chemistry.

1. a brittle, grayish-white, red-tinged, metallic element used in the manufacture of fusible alloys and in medicine. : Bi; : 208.980; : 83.

bismuth

/ ˈbɪzməθəl; ˈbɪzməθ /

noun

1. a brittle pinkish-white crystalline metallic element having low thermal and electrical conductivity, which expands on cooling. It is widely used in alloys, esp low-melting alloys in fire safety devices; its compounds are used in medicines. Symbol: Bi; atomic no: 83; atomic wt: 208.98037; valency: 3 or 5; relative density: 9.747; melting pt: 271.4°C; boiling pt: 1564±5°C

bismuth

/ bĭz′məth /

1. A brittle, pinkish-white, crystalline metallic element that occurs in nature as a free metal and in various ores. Bismuth is the most strongly diamagnetic element and has the highest atomic number of all stable elements. It is used to make low-melting alloys for fire-safety devices. Atomic number 83; atomic weight 208.98; melting point 271.3°C; boiling point 1,560°C; specific gravity 9.747; valence 3, 5.
2. See Periodic Table

Derived Forms

• bismuthal, adjective

Other Words From

• bismuth·al adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of bismuth¹

1660–70; earlier bismutum < New Latin bisemūtum, Latinized form of German Wissmuth (now Wismut ) < ?

Word History and Origins

Origin of bismuth¹

C17: from New Latin bisemūtum , from German Wismut , of unknown origin

Example Sentences

"We developed a new method to make very thin crystals of materials such as bismuth, and in the process reveal hidden electronic behaviors of the metal's surfaces."

From Science Daily

As a side effect of taking bismuth, it is harmless.

From Seattle Times

The industry has experimented with different alternatives, varying from adding substances to cement and testing other substances, including bismuth.

From Science Daily

While the coins mostly contained silver, the proportion of gold, bismuth and other elements in them guided the researchers to the silver's previously unknown origins.

From Science Daily

Heavy elements may result from this "nucleosynthesis"; in fact, half of the heavy isotopes up to bismuth and all of thorium and uranium in the universe may have been created by the r process.

From Science Daily