Bismuth Facts

Chemical & Physical Properties of Bismuth

Bizmuth
Wilfried Puhlmann / EyeEm/Getty Images
by Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D.
Dr. Helmenstine holds a Ph.D. in biomedical sciences and is a science writer, educator, and consultant. She has taught science courses at the high school, college, and graduate levels.
Updated March 09, 2017

Symbol

Bi

Atomic Number

83

Atomic Weight

208.98037

Electron Configuration

[Xe] 4f14 5d10 6s2 6p3

Element Classification

Metal

Discovery

Known to the ancients.

Name Origin

German: bisemutum, (white mass), presently spelled wismut.

Density (g/cc)

9.747

Melting Point (K)

44.5

Boiling Point (K)

1883

Appearance

hard, brittle, steel-gray metal with a pinkish tinge

Atomic Radius (pm)

170

Atomic Volume (cc/mol)

21.3

Covalent Radius (pm)

146

Ionic Radius

74 (+5e) 96 (+3e)

Specific Heat (@20°C J/g mol)

0.124

Fusion Heat (kJ/mol)

11.00

Evaporation Heat (kJ/mol)

172.0

Debye Temperature (K)

120.00

Pauling Negativity Number

2.02

First Ionizing Energy (kJ/mol)

702.9

Oxidation States

5, 3

Lattice Structure

rhombohedral

Lattice Constant (Å)

4.750

References: Los Alamos National Laboratory (2001), Crescent Chemical Company (2001), Lange's Handbook of Chemistry (1952), CRC Handbook of Chemistry & Physics (18th Ed.)

Return to the Periodic Table