Symbol
Bi
  
Hg
  
Period Number
6
  
6
  
Block
p block
  
d block
  
Element Family
Post-Transition
  
Transition Metal
  
Space Group Name
C12/m1
  
R_ 3m
  
Interesting Facts
- Bismuth metal is soluble and reacts with concentrated nitric acid.
- It oxides are used as a yellow pigment in paint. Bismuth chloride oxide BiClO gives a pearly texture to cosmetics.
  
- At room temperature mercury is found in a liquid state.
- A coin of pound or rupees floats in mercury.
- Because of its low melting point and boiling point it is used in thermometers.
  
Sources
Found in Minerals, Mining, Ores of Minerals
  
Mining, Ores of Minerals
  
History
  
  
Who Discovered
Claude François Geoffroy
  
Ancient Chinese and Indians
  
Discovery
In 1753
  
Before 2000 BCE
  
Abundance
  
  
Abundance In Universe
Not Available
  
Abundance In Sun
~0.000006 %
  
14
~-9999 %
  
Abundance In Meteorites
Not Available
  
Abundance In Earth's Crust
Abundance In Oceans
Not Available
  
Uses & Benefits
- Tin and bismuth alloys have a very low melting point and hence it is used in fire detector and the fire extinguishers. It also used in electric solders and fuses.
  
- It is a liquid metal at room temperature, but it is a toxic heavy metal and hence many uses of mercury are under review or phased out.
- It is manly used as a catalysts in chemical industry.
  
Industrial Uses
Automobile Industry, Chemical Industry, Electrical Industry, Electronic Industry
  
Electrical Industry, Electronic Industry
  
Medical Uses
Pharmaceutical Industry
  
Dentistry
  
Other Uses
Alloys
  
Alloys, Mirror Manufacturing, Pharmaceutical Industry
  
Biological Properties
  
  
Toxicity
Low Toxic
  
Highly Toxic
  
Present in Human Body
Yes
  
Yes
  
In Blood
0.02 Blood/mg dm-3
  
20
0.01 Blood/mg dm-3
  
23
In Bone
0.20 p.p.m.
  
22
0.45 p.p.m.
  
19
Melting Point
Not Available
  
Boiling Point
1,560.00 °C
  
99+
Appearance
  
  
Physical State
Solid
  
Liquid
  
Color
Silver
  
Silver
  
Luster
Metallic
  
NA
  
Hardness
  
  
Mohs Hardness
Not Available
  
Brinell Hardness
Not Available
  
Speed of Sound
1,790.00 m/s
  
99+
1,451.40 m/s
  
99+
Optical Properties
  
  
Refractive Index
Not Available
  
Reflectivity
Not Available
  
Allotropes
No
  
No
  
α Allotropes
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
β Allotropes
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
γ Allotropes
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Chemical Formula
Bi
  
Hg
  
Isotopes
  
  
Electronegativity
  
  
Pauling Electronegativity
Sanderson Electronegativity
Allred Rochow Electronegativity
Mulliken-Jaffe Electronegativity
Electropositivity
  
  
Pauling Electropositivity
Ionization Energies
  
  
1st Energy Level
703.00 kJ/mol
  
35
1,007.10 kJ/mol
  
4
2nd Energy Level
1,610.00 kJ/mol
  
33
1,810.00 kJ/mol
  
20
3rd Energy Level
2,466.00 kJ/mol
  
99+
3,300.00 kJ/mol
  
20
4th Energy Level
4,370.00 kJ/mol
  
28
Not Available
  
5th Energy Level
5,400.00 kJ/mol
  
30
Not Available
  
6th Energy Level
8,520.00 kJ/mol
  
19
Not Available
  
Electrochemical Equivalent
2.60 g/amp-hr
  
19
3.74 g/amp-hr
  
10
Other Chemical Properties
Ionization, Radioactive Isotopes, Solubility
  
Flammability, Ionization, Solubility
  
Electron Configuration
[Xe] 4f14 5d10 6s2 6p3
  
[Xe] 4f14 5d10 6s2
  
Crystal Structure
Rhombohedral (RHO)
  
Rhombohedral (RHO)
  
Crystal Lattice
RHO-Crystal-Structure-of-Bismuth.jpg#100
  
RHO-Crystal-Structure-of-Mercury.jpg#100
  
Atom
  
  
Radius of an Atom
  
  
Atomic Volume
21.30 cm3/mol
  
14
14.82 cm3/mol
  
35
Adjacent Atomic Numbers
  
  
Valence Electron Potential
41.90 (-eV)
  
99+
28.20 (-eV)
  
99+
Lattice Angles
NA
  
NA
  
Lattice C/A Ratio
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Density
  
  
Density At Room Temperature
13.53 g/cm3
  
24
Density When Liquid (at m.p.)
10.05 g/cm3
  
18
Not Available
  
Tensile Strength
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Viscosity
Not Available
  
Vapor Pressure
  
  
Elasticity properties
  
  
Shear Modulus
Not Available
  
Bulk Modulus
Not Available
  
Young's Modulus
Not Available
  
Poisson Ratio
Not Available
  
Other Mechanical Properties
NA
  
NA
  
Magnetic Characteristics
  
  
Magnetic Ordering
Diamagnetic
  
Diamagnetic
  
Permeability
Not Available
  
Susceptibility
Not Available
  
Electrical Properties
  
  
Electrical Property
Semiconductor
  
Conductor
  
Electrical Conductivity
0.01 106/cm Ω
  
99+
0.01 106/cm Ω
  
99+
Electron Affinity
91.20 kJ/mol
  
11
0.00 kJ/mol
  
40
Specific Heat
0.12 J/(kg K)
  
40
0.14 J/(kg K)
  
38
Molar Heat Capacity
25.52 J/mol·K
  
37
27.98 J/mol·K
  
13
Thermal Conductivity
7.97 W/m·K
  
99+
8.30 W/m·K
  
99+
Critical Temperature
Not Available
  
Thermal Expansion
13.40 µm/(m·K)
  
28
60.40 µm/(m·K)
  
5
Enthalpy
  
  
Enthalpy of Vaporization
151.00 kJ/mol
  
99+
56.90 kJ/mol
  
99+
Enthalpy of Fusion
10.90 kJ/mol
  
33
2.29 kJ/mol
  
99+
Enthalpy of Atomization
207.10 kJ/mol
  
99+
61.50 kJ/mol
  
99+
Standard Molar Entropy
56.70 J/mol.K
  
24
75.80 J/mol.K
  
6