What About Bismuth?

Lately, it seems there is a lot about Bismuth.  Classified as an exotic metal, Bismuth is claimed to be the most naturally diamagnetic.  Because it opposes magnetic fields, there are more experiments that can be done with Bismuth than other types of metals.  It also has the second lowest thermal conductivity and has a high electrical resistance.

As a result of all these characteristics, if Bismuth is presented in thin layers on what they call, "subtrates," it becomes a semiconductor.  Another of its unique qualities is that it is denser when a liquid form  rather than a solid form.  It works very similar to water because it expands when frozen.  Bismuth became a very important component in typesetting alloys because of this unique quality.  They needed an alloy that would expand to fill the printing molds.

Bismuth is rated as a heavy metal, is brittle in nature, and is of a crystalline nature.  These crystals are white with a silvery-pink color to them.  In its natural form, Bismuth is often found with iridescent oxide tarnish.  This creates many refractive colors.  Depending on what Bismuth may be burned with, the flames can be of one color and the fumes can be another.  

This heavy metal is also looked at as environmentally safe.   It is also non-carcinogenic.  With all of its special qualities, Bismuth is becoming a very unique and important metal in the industrious world.  Many industries are introducing Bismuth as a substitute for toxic metals, like lead.