Showing posts with label metals. Show all posts
Showing posts with label metals. Show all posts

Sunday, April 16, 2006

Bismuth

Interesting facts about Bi, mass 209 (the only stable isotope), atomic number 83.
It melts at 520 F, maybe possible in the oven.
It boils at 1833 K (2840 F). The ICP plasma I use is 8,000 - 10,000 K.


Not quite as toxic as other elements in the same group, arsenic and antimony. Bismuth is used in cosmetics. And it's in Pepto-Bismol

The most diamagnetic metal, a weak type of magnatism compared to ferro- or paramagnatism. It wouldn't stick to your fridge.

It is used as an internal standard, it is run through the mass spec with every sample at the same concentration, and I make sure the instrument gives the same result. One way to tell if the instrument drifts.
Around $8 / kg.