Bismuth was discovered by an unknown alchemist around 1400 AD. At first it was a distinct element, but it was proof that it was a real element by Claude Geoffroy the Younger back in 1753.It actually got its name “From the German words for white mass, Weisse Masse which was later changed to Wisuth and Bisemutum” (The Element Bismuth). Bismuth has been known during the ancient times, and often got often got mixed up with lead and tin. It is a likewise of a heavy metal and it melts at relatively at low temperature making it easy to work with. Now bismuth occurs in free in nature and in certain minerals like bismuthinite (Bi2S3) and bismite (Bi2O3). …show more content…
When bismuth is pure it is actually a white, brittle metal with a slightly pink color.
“Bismuth is usually mixed with other metals, such as lead, tin, iron or cadmium to form low-melting alloys” (The Element Bismuth).The alloys are essentially used in things such as automatic fire sprinkler system, fire detection systems and electrical fuses. When a person has Bismuth oxide (Bi2O3), it is typically used as a yellow pigment in paints and cosmetics. “Bismuth oxychloride (BiOCl) is used to make a pigment known as bismuth white” (The Element Bismuth). When bismuth is the compound bismuth carbonate (Bi2(CO3)3) it is used to treat diarrhea and gastric
ulcers.
One may not have think that bismuth is all the neat, but in reality we use this element more then we think. Bismuth may had to get proven that it was a real element, but with out this element I am not sure how most of the objects that use bismuth would function. A person do not truly know why we use that element until some research is done.