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

When Cornella heard a speaker at a 2014 conference say that bismuth was nontoxic, he was sure it was a mistake.

From Science News

To do this, they coated the bismuth material with a magnetic film.

From Science News For Students

Several years ago, a team of physicists at Stanford University led by Aharon Kapitulnik was trying to grow a thin layer of bismuth crystal on a metallic surface.

From Quanta Magazine

The polished metal of the second piece contrasts such seemingly corroded entries as Tishan Hsu’s machine-mimicking wood-and-metal “New Portable” and Catherine Czudej’s ceramic panels covered with bismuth crystals.

From Washington Post