Bi 83

Bismuth (Bi)

post-transition-metal

Period: 6 Group: 15 Block: p

Solid

Standard Atomic Weight

Electron configuration

[Xe] 6s² 4f¹⁴ 5d¹⁰ 6p³

Melting point

271.4 °C (544.55 K)

Boiling point

1563.85 °C (1837 K)

Density

9807 kg/m³

Oxidation states

−3, −2, −1, 0, +1, +2, +3, +4, +5

Electronegativity (Pauling)

2.02

Ionization energy (1st)

Discovery year

1753

Atomic radius

160 pm

Details

Name origin German: bisemutum, (white mass), Now spelled wismut.

Discoverers Known to the ancients.

Bismuth is a heavy post-transition metal and the heaviest element with a primordial isotope that is effectively stable on human timescales. Natural bismuth is almost entirely ²⁰⁹Bi, now known to be very weakly radioactive by alpha decay. It has unusually low toxicity for a heavy metal, low thermal conductivity, a low melting point, and a strong tendency to form +3 compounds. These traits make it useful where lead, cadmium, or mercury are undesirable.

It is a white, crystalline, brittle metal with a pinkish tinge. It occurs in a native state. Bismuth is the most diamagnetic of all metals, and the thermal conductivity is lower than any metal, except mercury. It has a high electrical resistance, and has the highest Hall effect of any metal (i.e., greatest increase in electrical resistance when placed in a magnetic field).

The name derives from the German weisse masse for "white mass" from the colour of its oxides. The ancients did not distinguish bismuth from lead. The French chemist Claude-Francois Geoffroy showed that bismuth was distinct from lead in 1753.

Bismuth, which has been known since ancient times, was often confused with lead and tin. Bismuth was first shown to be a distinct element in 1753 by Claude Geoffroy the Younger. Bismuth does occur free in nature and in such minerals as bismuthinite (Bi2S3) and bismite (Bi2O3). The largest deposits of bismuth are found in Bolivia, although bismuth is usually obtained as a by-product of mining and refining lead, copper, tin, silver and gold.

From the German Weisse Masse, meaning white mass; later Wisuth and Bisemutum. In early times bismuth was confused with tin and lead. Claude Geoffroy the Younger showed it to be distinct from lead in 1753.

Read about Bismuth on Wikipedia

Images

Properties

Physical

Atomic radius (empirical) 160 pm

Covalent radius 148 pm

Van der Waals radius 207 pm

Metallic radius 151 pm

Density

Molar volume 0.0213 L/mol

Phase at STP solid

Melting point 271.4 °C

Boiling point 1563.85 °C

Thermal conductivity 7.9 W/(m·K)

Specific heat capacity 0.122 J/(g·K)

Molar heat capacity 25.52 J/(mol·K)

Crystal structure rhombohedral

Chemical

Electronegativity (Pauling) 2.02

Electronegativity (Allen) 2.01

Electron affinity

Ionization energy (1st)

Ionization energy (2nd)

Ionization energy (3rd)

Ionization energy (4th)

Ionization energy (5th)

Oxidation states −3, −2, −1, 0, +1, +2, +3, +4, +5

Valence electrons 5

Electron configuration

Electron configuration (semantic)

Thermodynamic

Critical point (temperature) 4347 °C

Heat of fusion 0.11297093 eV

Heat of vaporization 1.56501 eV

Heat of sublimation 2.176504 eV

Heat of atomization 2.176504 eV

Atomization enthalpy

Nuclear

Stable isotopes 0

Discovery year 1753

Abundance

Abundance (Earth's crust) 0.009 mg/kg

Abundance (ocean)

Reactivity

N/A

Crystal Structure

Lattice constant a 475 pm

Electronic Structure

Electrons per shell 2, 8, 18, 32, 18, 5

Identifiers

CAS number 7440-69-9

Term symbol

InChI InChI=1S/Bi

InChI Key JCXGWMGPZLAOME-UHFFFAOYSA-N

Electron Configuration Measured

Ion charge

Protons 83

Electrons 83

Charge Neutral

Configuration Bi: 4f¹⁴ 5d¹⁰ 6s² 6p³

[Xe] 4f¹⁴ 5d¹⁰ 6s² 6p³

1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 3d¹⁰ 4s² 4p⁶ 4d¹⁰ 5s² 5p⁶ 4f¹⁴ 5d¹⁰ 6s² 6p³

Orbital diagram

↑↓

2/2

↑↓

2/2

↑↓

6/6

↑↓

2/2

↑↓

6/6

↑↓

2/2

↑↓

10/10

↑↓

6/6

↑↓

2/2

↑↓

10/10

↑↓

6/6

↑↓

2/2

↑↓

14/14

↑↓

10/10

↑

3/6 3↑

Total electrons: 83 Unpaired: 3

Atomic model

Protons 83

Neutrons 118

Electrons 83

Mass number 201

Stability Radioactive

Isotopes change neutron count, mass, and stability — not the electron configuration of a neutral atom.

Schematic atomic model, not to scale.

Atomic Fingerprint

Emission / Absorption Spectrum

Emission Visible: 380–750 nm

Isotope Distribution

No stable isotopes.

Mass number	Atomic mass (u)	Natural abundance	Half-life
189 Radioactive	188.989195 ± 0.000022	N/A	688 ms
208 Radioactive	207.9797425 ± 0.0000025	N/A	368 ky
195 Radioactive	194.9806488 ± 0.0000057	N/A	183 seconds
201 Radioactive	200.97701 ± 0.000016	N/A	103 minutes
217 Radioactive	217.009372 ± 0.000019	N/A	98.5 seconds

Measured

Phase / State

Solid 25 °C (298.15 K)

Reason: 246.4 °C below melting point (271.4 °C)

Melting point 271.4 °C

Boiling point 1563.85 °C

Below melting by 246.4 °C

0 K Current temperature: 25 °C 6000 K

Phase timeline

Schematic, not to scale

Solid

Liquid

Gas

Melting

Boiling

25°C

Solid

Liquid

Gas

Current

Phase transition points

Melting point Literature

271.4 °C

Boiling point Literature

1563.85 °C

Current phase Calculated
Solid

Transition energies

Heat of fusion Literature

0.11297093 eV

Energy required to melt 1 mol at melting point

Heat of vaporization Literature

1.56501 eV

Energy required to vaporize 1 mol at boiling point

Heat of sublimation Literature

2.176504 eV

Energy required to sublime 1 mol at sublimation point

Density

Reference density Literature

9807 kg/m³

At standard conditions

Current density Calculated

9807 kg/m³

At standard conditions

Advanced

Critical point Literature

4347 °C

Atomic Spectra

Showing 10 of 83 Atomic Spectra. Sorted by ion charge (ascending).

Lines Holdings ?

Ion	Charge	Total lines	Transition probabilities	Level designations
Bi I	0	69	39	63
Bi II	+1	111	4	16
Bi III	+2	204	204	204
Bi IV	+3	45	0	0
Bi V	+4	18	0	0

NIST Lines Holdings →

Levels Holdings ?

Ion	Charge	Levels
Bi I	0	75
Bi II	+1	78
Bi III	+2	68
Bi IV	+3	38
Bi V	+4	15
Bi VI	+5	115
Bi VII	+6	2
Bi VIII	+7	2
Bi IX	+8	2
Bi X	+9	2

NIST Levels Holdings →

83 Bi 208.9804

Bismuth — Atomic Orbital Visualizer

[Xe]6s24f145d106p3

Energy levels 2 8 18 32 18 5

Oxidation states -3, -2, -1, 0, +1, +2, +3, +4, +5

HOMO 6p n=6 · l=1 · m=-1

Bismuth — Atomic Orbital Visualizer Preview

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83 Bi 208.9804

Bismuth — Crystal Structure Visualizer

Trigonal · Pearson N/A

Experimental

Pearson N/A

Bismuth — Crystal Structure Visualizer Preview

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Ionic Radii

Charge	Coordination	Spin	Radius
+3	5	N/A	96 pm
+3	6	N/A	103 pm
+3	8	N/A	117 pm
+5	6	N/A	76 pm

Compounds

208.980 u

Bi+3

208.980 u

209.984 u

213.999 u

211.991 u

206.978 u

205.978 u

212.994 u

204.977 u

199.978 u

201.978 u

210.987 u

202.977 u

200.977 u

208.980 u

Bi+2

208.980 u

Bi+3

212.994 u

216.006 u

207.980 u

197.979 u

191.986 u

193.983 u

195.981 u

217.009 u

Isotopes (5)

Mass number	Atomic mass (u)	Natural abundance	Half-life	Decay mode
189 Radioactive	188.989195 ± 0.000022	N/A	688 ms	α ≈100%β+ ?
208 Radioactive	207.9797425 ± 0.0000025	N/A	368 ky	β+ =100%
195 Radioactive	194.9806488 ± 0.0000057	N/A	183 seconds	β+ ≈100%α =0.030±1.2%
201 Radioactive	200.97701 ± 0.000016	N/A	103 minutes	β+ =100%
217 Radioactive	217.009372 ± 0.000019	N/A	98.5 seconds	β- =100%

189 Radioactive

Atomic mass (u) 188.989195 ± 0.000022

Natural abundance N/A

Half-life 688 ms

Decay mode

α ≈100%β+ ?

208 Radioactive

Atomic mass (u) 207.9797425 ± 0.0000025

Natural abundance N/A

Half-life 368 ky

Decay mode

β+ =100%

195 Radioactive

Atomic mass (u) 194.9806488 ± 0.0000057

Natural abundance N/A

Half-life 183 seconds

Decay mode

β+ ≈100%α =0.030±1.2%

201 Radioactive

Atomic mass (u) 200.97701 ± 0.000016

Natural abundance N/A

Half-life 103 minutes

Decay mode

β+ =100%

217 Radioactive

Atomic mass (u) 217.009372 ± 0.000019

Natural abundance N/A

Half-life 98.5 seconds

Decay mode

β- =100%

Spectral Lines

Wavelength (nm)	Intensity	Ion stage	Type	Transition	Accuracy	Source
384.893 nm	21	Bi III	emission	6s2.6d 2D → 6s2.7p 2P*	Measured	NIST
392.72 nm	N/A	Bi III	emission	6s.6p2.(3P) 2P → 6s2.8p 2P*	Measured	NIST
393.036 nm	N/A	Bi III	emission	6s.6p2.(1S) 2S → 6s2.8p 2P*	Measured	NIST
422.469 nm	350	Bi III	emission	6s2.6f 2F* → 6s2.7g 2G	Measured	NIST
423.421 nm	280	Bi III	emission	6s2.6f 2F* → 6s2.7g 2G	Measured	NIST
425.9413 nm	N/A	Bi II	emission	6s2.6p.6d (1/2,5/2)* → 6s2.6p.5f (1/2,7/2)	Measured	NIST
430.1697 nm	N/A	Bi II	emission	6s2.6p.6d (1/2,5/2)* → 6s2.6p.5f (1/2,7/2)	Measured	NIST
430.653 nm	N/A	Bi III	emission	6s.6p2.(1S) 2S → 6s2.8p 2P*	Measured	NIST
432.792 nm	360	Bi III	emission	6s2.7p 2P* → 6s2.8s 2S	Measured	NIST
456.143 nm	N/A	Bi III	emission	6s2.7s 2S → 6s2.7p 2P*	Measured	NIST
470.5285 nm	N/A	Bi II	emission	6s2.6p.7p (1/2,1/2) → 6s2.6p.7d (1/2,3/2)*	Measured	NIST
472.883 nm	N/A	Bi III	emission	6s.6p2.(1D) 2D → 6s2.5f 2F*	Measured	NIST
475.128 nm	N/A	Bi III	emission	6s.6p2.(1D) 2D → 6s2.5f 2F*	Measured	NIST
479.742 nm	N/A	Bi III	emission	6s2.6d 2D → 6s2.7p 2P*	Measured	NIST
480.9082 nm	N/A	Bi III	emission	6s2.6p 2P* → 6s2.6p 2P*	Measured	NIST
505.178 nm	N/A	Bi III	emission	6s2.5g 2G → 6s2.7h 2H*	Measured	NIST
505.178 nm	N/A	Bi III	emission	6s2.5g 2G → 6s2.7h 2H*	Measured	NIST
505.244 nm	120	Bi III	emission	6s2.5g 2G → 6s2.7h 2H*	Measured	NIST
507.928 nm	N/A	Bi III	emission	6s2.6d 2D → 6s2.7p 2P*	Measured	NIST
512.4356 nm	N/A	Bi II	emission	6s2.6p.7s (3/2,1/2)* → 6s2.6p.7p (3/2,3/2)	Measured	NIST
514.4507 nm	N/A	Bi II	emission	6s2.6p.7s (1/2,1/2)* → 6s2.6p.7p (1/2,3/2)	Measured	NIST
520.9325 nm	N/A	Bi II	emission	6s2.6p.7s (1/2,1/2)* → 6s2.6p.7p (1/2,3/2)	Measured	NIST
613.907 nm	22	Bi III	emission	6s2.6f 2F* → 6s2.6g 2G	Measured	NIST
614.039 nm	150	Bi III	emission	6s2.6f 2F* → 6s2.6g 2G	Measured	NIST
616.071 nm	120	Bi III	emission	6s2.6f 2F* → 6s2.6g 2G	Measured	NIST
662.323 nm	180	Bi III	emission	6s2.8p 2P* → 6s2.8d 2D	Measured	NIST
738.23 nm	N/A	Bi III	emission	6s.6p2.(1D) 2D → 6s2.7p 2P*	Measured	NIST

Extended Properties

Covalent Radii (Extended)

Covalent radius (Pyykkö)

Covalent radius (Pyykkö, double)

Covalent radius (Pyykkö, triple)

Covalent radius (Bragg)

Van der Waals Radii

Truhlar

Batsanov

Alvarez

UFF

MM3

Atomic & Metallic Radii

Atomic radius (Rahm)

Metallic radius (C12)

Numbering Scales

Mendeleev

Pettifor

Glawe

Electronegativity Scales

Ghosh

Miedema

Gunnarsson–Lundqvist

Robles–Bartolotti

Polarizability & Dispersion

Dipole polarizability

Dipole polarizability (unc.)

C₆ (Gould–Bučko)

Miedema Parameters

Miedema molar volume

Miedema electron density

Supply Risk & Economics

Production concentration

Relative supply risk

Reserve distribution

Political stability (top producer)

Political stability (top reserve)

Phase Transitions & Allotropes

Melting point	544.55 K
Boiling point	1837.15 K
Critical point (temperature)	4620.15 K

Oxidation State Categories

+5 extended

+2 extended

−1 extended

−2 extended

−3 extended

0 extended

+1 extended

+3 main

+4 extended

Advanced Reference Data

Screening Constants (15)

n	Orbital	σ
1	s	1.6018
2	p	4.533
2	s	21.824
3	d	13.4585
3	p	23.0678
3	s	24.1145
4	d	37.7608
4	f	37.9308
4	p	36.1496
4	s	35.2928

Crystal Radii Detail (4)

Charge	CN	r_crystal (pm)	Origin
3	V	110	calculated,
3	VI	117	from r^3 vs V plots,
3	VIII	131	from r^3 vs V plots,
5	VI	90	estimated,

Isotope Decay Modes (70)

Isotope	Mode	Intensity
184	A	100%
185	p	—
185	A	—
186	A	100%
186	B+	—
186	B+SF	0%
187	A	100%
188	A	100%
188	B+	—
188	B+SF	0%

X‑ray Scattering Factors (516)

Energy (eV)	f₁	f₂
10	—	5.59475
10.1617	—	5.63587
10.3261	—	5.67729
10.4931	—	5.71901
10.6628	—	5.74574
10.8353	—	5.7564
11.0106	—	5.76707
11.1886	—	5.77776
11.3696	—	5.78847
11.5535	—	5.7834

Additional Data

Estimated Crustal Abundance

The estimated element abundance in the earth's crust.

8.5×10-3 milligrams per kilogram

References (1)

[5] Bismuth https://education.jlab.org/itselemental/ele083.html

Estimated Oceanic Abundance

The estimated element abundance in the earth's oceans.

2×10-5 milligrams per liter

References (1)

[5] Bismuth https://education.jlab.org/itselemental/ele083.html

Sources

Sources of this element.

The most important ores are bismuthinite or bismuth glance and bismite. Peru, Japan, Mexico, Bolivia, and Canada are major bismuth producers. Much of the bismuth produced in the U.S. is obtained as a by-product in refining lead, copper, tin, silver, and gold ores.

References (1)

[6] Bismuth https://periodic.lanl.gov/83.shtml

References

(9)

1 PubChem

Data deposited in or computed by PubChem

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2 Atomic Mass Data Center (AMDC), International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)

The half-life and atomic mass data was provided by the Atomic Mass Data Center at the International Atomic Energy Agency.

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3 IUPAC Commission on Isotopic Abundances and Atomic Weights (CIAAW)

Bismuth

Element data are cited from the Atomic weights of the elements (an IUPAC Technical Report). The IUPAC periodic table of elements can be found at https://iupac.org/what-we-do/periodic-table-of-elements/. Additional information can be found within IUPAC publication doi:10.1515/pac-2015-0703 Copyright © 2020 International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry.

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4 IUPAC Periodic Table of the Elements and Isotopes (IPTEI)

The information are cited from Pure Appl. Chem. 2018; 90(12): 1833-2092, https://doi.org/10.1515/pac-2015-0703.

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License note: Copyright (c) 2020 International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry. The International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) contribution within Pubchem is provided under a CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 license, unless otherwise stated.

5 Jefferson Lab, U.S. Department of Energy

Bismuth

Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility (Jefferson Lab) is one of 17 national laboratories funded by the U.S. Department of Energy. The lab's primary mission is to conduct basic research of the atom's nucleus using the lab's unique particle accelerator, known as the Continuous Electron Beam Accelerator Facility (CEBAF). For more information visit https://www.jlab.org/

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License note: Please see citation and linking information: https://education.jlab.org/faq/index.html

6 Los Alamos National Laboratory, U.S. Department of Energy

Bismuth

The periodic table at the LANL (Los Alamos National Laboratory) contains basic element information together with the history, source, properties, use, handling and more. The provenance data may be found from the link under the source name.

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7 NIST Physical Measurement Laboratory

Bismuth

The periodic table contains NIST's critically-evaluated data on atomic properties of the elements. The provenance data that include data for atomic spectroscopy, X-ray and gamma ray, radiation dosimetry, nuclear physics, and condensed matter physics may be found from the link under the source name. Ref: https://www.nist.gov/pml/atomic-spectra-database

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8 PubChem Elements

Bismuth

This section provides all form of data related to element Bismuth.

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9 PubChem Elements

Bismuth

The element property data was retrieved from publications.

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Last updated: May 1, 2026

Data verified: May 12, 2026

Content is reviewed against latest scientific data.