Bismuth

Chemical reactions of the elements

Reaction of bismuth with air

Upon heating, bismuth reacts with oxygen in air to form the trioxide bismuth(III) oxide, Bi₂O₃. The flame is bluish white.

4Bi(s) + 3O₂(g) → 2Bi₂O₃(s)

Reaction of bismuth with water

At red heat, bismuth reacts with water to form the trioxide bismuth(III) oxide, Bi₂O₃.

2Bi(s) + 3H₂O(g) → Bi₂O₃(s) + 3H₂(g)

Reaction of bismuth with the halogens

Bismuth reacts with fluorine, F₂, to form the pentafluoride bismuth(V) fluoride.

2Bi(s) + 5F₂(g) → 2 BiF₅(s) [white]

Bismuth reacts under controlled conditions with the halogens fluorine, F₂, chlorine, Cl₂, bromine, Br₂, and iodine, I₂, to form the respective trihalides bismuth(III) fluoride, BiF₃, bismuth(III) chloride, BiCl₃, bismuth(III) bromide, BiBr₃, and bismuth(III) iodide, BiI₃.

2Bi(s) + 3F₂(g) → 2BiF₃(s) []

2Bi(s) + 3Cl₂(g) → 2BiCl₃(s) []

2Bi(s) + 3Br₂(g) → 2BiBr₃(s) []

2Bi(s) + 3I₂(g) → 2BiI₃(s) []

Reaction of bismuth with acids

Bismuth dissolves in concentrated sulphuric acid, H₂SO₄, or nitric acid, HNO₃, to form solutions containing Bi(III). The sulphuric acid reaction produces sulphur(IV) dioxide gas. With hydrochloric acid in the presence of oxygen, bismuth(III) chloride is produced.

4Bi(s) + 3O₂(g) + 12HCl(aq) → 4BiCl₃(aq) + 6H₂O(l)

Reaction of bismuth with bases

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Bismuth	Bismuth
Bismut	Bismut
Bismuto	Bismuto
Vismut	Bismuto