Medical:

• ​Bismuth 213 is used to treat Lukemia cells.

• Pepto-Bismal is 57% (by weight) bismuth.

 

 

History: 

• Bismuth has been used since ancient times but it was confused with tin and lead.

• No single person is credited with the discovery since it was confused with tin and lead.

 

 

Other: 

• The half-life of Bi-209 is more than a billion times longer than the projected age of the universe (19,000,000,000,000,000,000 years).

• Bismuth is twice as abundant as gold in the Earth's crust.

• It is produced as a byproduct of lead refining.

• Only one naturally occuring isotope of bismuth, bismuth-209.

• Bismuth expands as it solidifies (most elements contract).

• The iridescent colors are caused by oxidation, which happens very quickly when the melted bismuth is exposed to air.