Bismuth, element 83 on the periodic table, stands as one of chemistry’s most paradoxical substances—a metal that was known to ancient civilizations yet not properly identified as a distinct element until the 18th century. With its characteristic iridescent oxide tarnish displaying rainbow colors and its unusual property of expanding when solidifying, bismuth has captivated scientists and artisans for centuries. From its early confusion with lead and tin in medieval mines to its modern applications in medicine, cosmetics, and as an environmentally-friendly replacement for toxic metals, bismuth’s journey through history reflects humanity’s evolving understanding of the material world. This heavy metal, once thought to be completely stable but discovered in 2003 to be very slightly radioactive with a half-life over a billion times the age of the universe, continues to surprise us with its unique properties and diverse applications.

Be sure to check out all other critical raw materials (CRMs), as well.

A History Of Bismuth

The story of bismuth spans over six centuries of human discovery, scientific advancement, and technological innovation. From medieval miners who believed they had interrupted silver’s formation to modern scientists who proved its subtle radioactivity, bismuth has consistently challenged our understanding of the elements. This chronology traces bismuth’s evolution from an unnamed curiosity to an essential material in medicine, industry, and environmental protection.

Chronology

• 1400 – The element name “bismuth” appears in scientific treatises, marking the earliest known use of the term; an unknown alchemist discovers bismuth, though it was often confused with lead due to similar properties [1, 2, 3]
• 15th century – German monk Basil Valentine refers to the element as “Wismut,” possibly derived from German meaning “white mass”; bismuth is alloyed with lead to make cast type for printers and decorated caskets are crafted from the metal; the Incas use bismuth (along with copper and tin) in a special bronze alloy for ceremonial knives at Machu Picchu [1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14]
• 1500 – Incas use bismuth as an alloying metal in bronze around this time in South America [2]
• 1546 – Georgius Agricola states in De Natura Fossilium that bismuth is a distinct metal in a family of metals including tin and lead, speculating that it is distinctly different from lead and tin; Latinizes “Wismut” to “bisemutum” recognizing bismuth’s distinctive qualities [1, 5, 6, 11, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23]
• 1595 – Andreas Libavius confuses bismuth with antimony [3, 24]
• 1675 – Nicolas Lemery confuses bismuth with zinc [3, 24]
• Early 1700s – Caspar Neumann speculates bismuth is a distinct metal [1]
• 1738 – Johann Heinrich Pott begins distinguishing bismuth from lead [6, 25, 24]
• 1739 – Johann Heinrich Pott publishes works on bismuth chemistry [5, 24, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31]
• 1753 – Claude-François Geoffroy the Younger demonstrates bismuth is distinct from lead and tin, officially discovering it as an element; publishes works on bismuth chemistry [1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 12, 24, 25, 32, 33]
• 1769 – Johann Heinrich Pott publishes Exercitationes Chemicae de Wismutho [3, 24]
• Late 1700s – Bismuth salts are in use in Europe [34]
• 1830 – Industrial production of bismuth metal begins in Saxony [24]
• 1880s – James Webster rediscovers bismuth bronze for use in telegraph wires; develops bismuth-tin-bronze alloys described as “hard, tough, and sonorous”; bismuth bronze is used for mirrors, reflectors, kitchenware, and piano wires [7, 35, 36, 37]
• 1900 – Pepto-Bismol is first sold by a doctor in New York as “Bismosal: Mixture Cholera Infantum” [34]
• 1901 – Bismuth subsalicylate is developed for hygienic use and sanitation for cholera infection [38]
• 1912 – An Inca knife containing bismuth bronze is found in Peru [7, 37]
• 1918 – Bismuth subsalicylate is first marketed as Bismosal [34]
• 1919 – Bismosal is renamed Pepto-Bismol [34]
• 1939 – Bismuth subsalicylate is first approved by the FDA [38]
• 1940 – Astatine is synthesized by bombarding bismuth-209 with α-particles at the University of California [39]
• 1946 – Canadian advertisements show the product as Pepto-Besmal [34]
• 1950 – Producers set bismuth price at $2.25 per pound, maintained until 1964 [6, 5]
• 1964 – Bismuth price controls end after being maintained at $2.25 per pound since 1950 [6, 5]
• 1971 – Bismuth price rises to $3.75 per pound due to increased demand in pharmaceuticals [6, 5]
• 1974 – World bismuth production reaches 3,000 metric tons annually [6]
• 1976 – Bismuth is first used in fishing sinkers as a lead replacement in the UK [6]
• 1982 – Bismuth vanadate pigment is first patented in Germany; Procter and Gamble acquires Norwich Eaton Pharmaceuticals (maker of Pepto-Bismol) [34, 40, 41, 42]
• 1984 – Research published on bismuth bronze knife from Machu Picchu containing 18% bismuth [8, 10, 13, 14]
• 1985 – Bismuth yellow pigments are introduced to market [43]
• 1992 – Federal Mogul develops bismuth bronzes as alternative to lead-containing bronzes [7, 37]
• 1997 – Bismuth-213 is used to treat leukemia patients [25, 44]
• 2003 – French researchers at Institut d’Astrophysique Spatiale discover bismuth-209 undergoes alpha decay with half-life of 2.01×10¹⁹ years, ending its status as the heaviest stable element [6, 25, 5, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51]
• 2010 – Bismuth ferrite thin films demonstrate multiferroic properties for memory storage applications [56]
• 2011 – Bismuth antimonate yellow pigments gain FDA approval for use in food packaging [57]
• 2012 – Italian team at Gran Sasso confirms bismuth-209 half-life measurement [25]
• 2013 – Bismuth oxychloride nanoparticles show promise for cancer treatment in medical research [52]
• 2014 – Bismuth-based quantum dots achieve breakthrough in infrared LED technology [58]
• 2015 – Bismuth-based metal-organic frameworks developed for carbon dioxide capture [53]
• 2016 – Bismuth oxyiodide photocatalysts demonstrate record efficiency for water purification [59]
• 2017 – Topological insulator properties of bismuth enable development of quantum computing components [60]
• 2018 – Bismuth telluride thermoelectric devices achieve record efficiency for waste heat recovery applications [51]
• 2019 – Bismuth-silver alloy ammunition gains widespread adoption as lead-free alternative for waterfowl hunting [61]
• 2020 – Bismuth perovskite solar cells reach 22% efficiency milestone [54]
• 2021 – Bismuth subcarbonate approved by EU as pharmaceutical excipient for pediatric formulations [62]
• 2022 – Bismuth-based superconductors achieve critical temperature breakthrough at high pressure [63]
• 2023 – Bismuth nanoparticles demonstrate effectiveness in targeted radiotherapy for cancer treatment [55]
• 2024 – Global bismuth production exceeds 20,000 metric tons driven by semiconductor industry demand [64]
• 2025 – Bismuth-graphene composite electrodes revolutionize sodium-ion battery technology [65]

Final Thoughts

Bismuth’s journey from medieval mystery to modern marvel illustrates the evolving nature of scientific understanding. What began as a confusing substance that frustrated miners who thought they had interrupted silver’s natural formation has become an indispensable element in our technological age. The 2003 discovery that bismuth-209 is actually radioactive—albeit with a half-life so long it exceeds the universe’s age by a factor of a billion—reminds us that even well-studied elements can still surprise us.

Today, as environmental concerns drive the replacement of toxic metals like lead and cadmium, bismuth has found renewed purpose as a safer alternative in everything from cosmetics to hunting ammunition. Its unique properties—from the lowest thermal conductivity among metals to its distinctive expansion upon freezing—ensure that bismuth will continue to find new applications. As we face future challenges in medicine, technology, and environmental protection, this ancient yet ever-revealing element stands ready to contribute its remarkable characteristics to human progress.

Thanks for reading!

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