Views: 6 Author: Site Editor Publish Time: 2021-02-04 Origin: Site
Bismuth is a metallic chemical element, symbolled as Bi, with atomic number of 83.
Although it has been known since ancient times, it became familiar to the Greeks and Romans during the Middle Ages, before that bismuth was often confused with other metals, such as lead and tin.
It is considered to be a metal in the periodic table but has more similarity to semimetals.
Bismuth is categorized among the group of elements conventionally known as “poor elements” due to its rarity. It has been used quite extensively for various purposes including cosmetic, industrial, laboratory, and pharmaceutical. Bismuth serves as a leading nontoxic replacement for lead in brass plumbing fixtures, fishing sinkers, free machining steels, and solders, as well as a metallurgical additive in the foundry.
The manufacture applications of bismuth also include ceramic glazes, pearlescent pigments, lubricating greases, and crystal ware.
Major applications of bismuth in medicine and health care are related to its high effectiveness in treating burns, intestinal disorders, and stomach ulcers as well as its potential activities against microorganisms, viruses and malignant tumors.
With the development of new therapies and better understanding of the mechanism of action of bismuth, the applications of bismuth-based agents in health care will be further extended.