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

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

Other Word Forms

• bismuthal 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

For their proof-of-concept work, the researchers used Field's metal, which is an alloy of indium, bismuth and tin.

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"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."

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

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

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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.

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