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Topic: Things to do with Bismuth?  (Read 9183 times)

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RyanJones

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Things to do with Bismuth?
« on: October 12, 2005, 06:16:39 PM »
Hi there all you chemistry fans!

I remember a few years ago I bought a large "lump" of Bismuth in crystaline form.

I have reently added a smaller piece to my mineral collection and so, I want to know if there is something the amature chemist can do with it? The lump is about 40 Grams incase you were wondering :)

As long as it does not involve something explosive or very, very toxic and as long as it does not vreak the forum rules (For your sake and mine) then please post your suggestions!


Cheers,

Ryan Jones
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Offline science2000

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Re:Things to do with Bismuth?
« Reply #1 on: October 12, 2005, 07:57:53 PM »
Crystalline Bismuth looks cool, are you sure you don't want to give it to a friend?
If not, i guess you can break it up and do different experiments with it. Trying dissolving pieces in different acids, and crystallize the salts. That's what I sometimes do for fun with metals.

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Offline constant thinker

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Re:Things to do with Bismuth?
« Reply #2 on: October 12, 2005, 07:58:01 PM »
I read this article in PopSci with making trick spoons. I can't find the article online so here goes the jist of it:

The alloy consists of 51% Indium, 32.5% Bismuth, and 16.5% tin. Theodore Gray, the author of the article, uses this alloy to make trick spoons that will melt in a cup of tea. This alloy is non-toxic so if you manage to get all of the liquid out of your drink you can drink it, not that I would. Indium melts at 314ºF, Bismuth at 520ºF, and Tin at  450ºF. This alloy has a slight tendency to stain glass. Indium is the most expensive element to buy. I've seen it for $70 a pound. Expensive, definately.

If you try this, it's in the February of 2005 issue of Popular Science. Also check out http://theodoregray.com/PeriodicTable/ . That's the guy that wrote this article. If you have any luck with this tell me. I want to try making metal alloys that'll have some cool property. I've only melted aluminum before.

Enoy!
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Offline P-man

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Re:Things to do with Bismuth?
« Reply #3 on: October 12, 2005, 08:54:31 PM »
You could melt it, I guess. What would happen if you blasted it with oxygen to try and oxidize it? That could be fun, I mean you could use more than oxygen. Nitrogen, hydrogen, etc.
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RyanJones

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Re:Things to do with Bismuth?
« Reply #4 on: October 13, 2005, 05:55:54 PM »
Quote from: P-man on October 12, 2005, 08:54:31 PM
You could melt it, I guess. What would happen if you blasted it with oxygen to try and oxidize it? That could be fun, I mean you could use more than oxygen. Nitrogen, hydrogen, etc.

Interesting ideas all, thanks for the suggestions...

I'm gonna put some of it into concentrated Nitric acid to make Bismuth Nitrate? Then I'm gonna try melting some and let it cool slowly to see what crystals look like :)

Cheers,

Ryan Jones
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