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How to Make Bismuth Crystals Download Article Reviewed by Anne Schmidt
Last Updated: August 18, 2024 References
Download Article
Materials
|
Bismuth Melting
|
Crystal Formation
|
Video
|
Tips
|
Warnings
|
Things You'll Need
|Show more|Show less X
This article was reviewed by Anne Schmidt. Anne Schmidt is a Chemistry Instructor in Wisconsin. Anne has been teaching high school chemistry for over 20 years and is passionate about providing accessible and educational chemistry content. She has over 9,000 subscribers to her educational chemistry YouTube channel. She has presented at the American Association of Chemistry Teachers (AATC) and was an Adjunct General Chemistry Instructor at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College. Anne was published in the Journal of Chemical Education as a Co-Author, has an article in ChemEdX, and has presented twice and was published with the AACT. Anne has a BS in Chemistry from the University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh, and an MA in Secondary Education and Teaching from Viterbo University. This article has been viewed 55,872 times.
Steps
Part 1 Part 1 of 3:
Materials
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1 Buy 3 kilograms (6.6 lb) of Bismuth. Bismuth is a fairly cheap metal but it is also very dense (it is often used as a substitute for lead).[1]XResearch source As such, you should buy several pounds/kilograms of it, to ensure you have enough to do the experiment again if you want to.
Because it is such a dense metal, be aware that you may need to buy more weight than you think as the pieces may be smaller than you were expecting.
To achieve the highest quality crystals, try and get hold of Bismuth that is of the highest purity (around the 99.99% mark).[2]XResearch source
The easiest way to buy Bismuth is online.
2 Have the right safety equipment around. The experiment does involve dealing with molten metal at a temperature of around 271 °C (520 °F). Like any liquid on a stove, it is not unusual for the metal to spatter and end up outside the vessel. As such, using appropriate safety equipment is extremely important.[3]XResearch source This includes:
Goggles
Sturdy gloves
Apron
Fire extinguisher
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3 Use a low-quality pot that you don’t mind not seeing clean again. Once you have melted the Bismuth in your pot, it’s highly unlikely that you will ever get that pot totally clean again so a cheap pot you don’t mind throwing out afterward is probably best.[4]XResearch source
Tall pots with a smaller diameter work better as the crystals form downwards from the surface of the molten metal.
4 Work outside if possible. Working outside will give you more freedom to make mistakes and also be much safer.
Be aware that some cheaper portable electric stoves don't have enough power to melt the Bismuth.[5]XResearch source
If you do work inside, make sure you have a fire extinguisher nearby.
Advertisement Part 2 Part 2 of 3:
Bismuth Melting
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1 Put the Bismuth in your pot and begin to heat the container. The melting point of Bismuth is 271 °C (520 °F) and it will take 10-20 minutes to get the Bismuth up to this temperature.[6]XResearch source Use a fork to stir any remaining bits of Bismuth in with the rest of it.
Be aware that as the Bismuth melts it may bubble and spatter so use a lid if you can.
2 Scrape away the shiny layer that has formed on the Bismuth. The impurities in the Bismuth will rise to the top as the Bismuth melts. Once it is completely melted, these impurities will form a layer on top of the liquid. Use a spoon or other utensil to scrape this layer away and discard elsewhere on a non-flammable surface.[7]XResearch source
This is extremely important to make sure that the Bismuth crystals start forming at the right time.
3 Turn off the heat once all the Bismuth is melted. In order to allow crystals to start forming the heat must be turned off. This occurs as the Bismuth starts moving back to a solid state from its molten state.[8]XResearch source
In order to reduce the speed at which the temperature of the Bismuth drops, some people turn the heat down gradually rather than straight off.
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Crystal Formation
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1 Wait for a solid layer to form on top. The Bismuth will cool from the outside in and a firm layer will form on top which should then be removed. Moving the pot unnecessarily can mean ending up with smaller crystals so try gently pushing on the top layer with a fork. This will give you an indication of whether a top layer has solidified or not.[9]XResearch source
The reason you need to remove the top layer is so that the crystals forming on the bottom don’t link up with the top layer. If this happens, your crystals will be trapped in.
Use a fork or spoon to scoop the top layer out from the rest of the Bismuth.
2 Cool the Bismuth as slowly as possible for larger crystals. This can be done by insulating the pot from the outside as this is where most of the heat is lost. Placing the pot into a tin foil mold or into a pile of sand are both good options for insulation.
3 Pour the rest of the liquid Bismuth into a separate bowl. As you have already removed the top layer, there will be a pool of liquid Bismuth underneath it. To create the largest crystals, pour the liquid out when the whole pot of Bismuth is about halfway between its molten and solid state.[10]XResearch source
Getting the timing correct here can take a little bit of practice so don't worry if you don't get it quite right the first time.
If the separate bowl is not metal then you should heat it so it doesn’t crack from heat shock.
4 Examine your crystals. Once you've removed the liquid from your pot, the Bismuth that solidified in the time you gave it will have formed crystals in your pot. These will initially appear to be silver but will quickly change color depending on the temperature that they were first exposed to oxygen at.[11]XResearch source
Use a pair of pliers to pull crystals out of the pot.
Alternatively, place the pot face down and bang firmly on the base of it a few times. With any luck, the whole solid piece of Bismuth will come out and you’ll be left with a large chunk with many crystals inside it.
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Video
Tips
One thing to try if you’ve done the experiment a few times is to suspend a small piece of Bismuth in the middle of the molten Bismuth just before allowing it to cool. This will result in crystals attaching to this piece as a point of nucleation rather than to the wall of the pan.[12]XResearch sourceThanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 4
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Warnings
Appropriate safety equipment should always be worn. Thanks Helpful 9 Not Helpful 2
In this experiment, you're working with molten metal at an extremely hot temperature so take extra care when transporting the liquid from one place to another. Thanks Helpful 9 Not Helpful 3
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Things You'll Need
3 kilograms (6.6 lb) of Bismuth
Disposable metal pot with lid
Stove
Safety goggles
Thick safety gloves
Apron
Secondary pot for draining
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Reviewed by: Anne Schmidt Chemistry Instructor This article was reviewed by Anne Schmidt. Anne Schmidt is a Chemistry Instructor in Wisconsin. Anne has been teaching high school chemistry for over 20 years and is passionate about providing accessible and educational chemistry content. She has over 9,000 subscribers to her educational chemistry YouTube channel. She has presented at the American Association of Chemistry Teachers (AATC) and was an Adjunct General Chemistry Instructor at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College. Anne was published in the Journal of Chemical Education as a Co-Author, has an article in ChemEdX, and has presented twice and was published with the AACT. Anne has a BS in Chemistry from the University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh, and an MA in Secondary Education and Teaching from Viterbo University. This article has been viewed 55,872 times. 54 votes - 84% Co-authors: 7Updated: August 18, 2024 Views: 55,872 Categories: ChemistryArticle SummaryX
To make bismuth crystals, start by melting the bismuth in a tall, narrow pot over a stove outdoors. Once the bismuth has melted, scrape off and dispose of the shiny layer on top. Then, wait until a solid layer forms on top of the bismuth as it cools before scraping the layer off with a fork. Next, pour the remaining liquid into a metal bowl so you're left with a solid chunk of bismuth in the bottom of the pot. Finally, turn the pot upside down and bang on it to remove the solid bismuth, along with the crystals. For tips on how to purchase bismuth, read on!Did this summary help you?YesNo
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Yes No Advertisement Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Reviewed by: Anne Schmidt Chemistry Instructor Co-authors: 7Updated: August 18, 2024 Views: 55,87284% of readers found this article helpful. 54 votes - 84% Click a star to add your vote
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Reviewed by: Anne Schmidt Chemistry Instructor This article was reviewed by Anne Schmidt. Anne Schmidt is a Chemistry Instructor in Wisconsin. Anne has been teaching high school chemistry for over 20 years and is passionate about providing accessible and educational chemistry content. She has over 9,000 subscribers to her educational chemistry YouTube channel. She has presented at the American Association of Chemistry Teachers (AATC) and was an Adjunct General Chemistry Instructor at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College. Anne was published in the Journal of Chemical Education as a Co-Author, has an article in ChemEdX, and has presented twice and was published with the AACT. Anne has a BS in Chemistry from the University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh, and an MA in Secondary Education and Teaching from Viterbo University. This article has been viewed 55,872 times. 54 votes - 84% Co-authors: 7 Updated: August 18, 2024 Views: 55,872 Categories: Chemistry Article SummaryX
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629 
1 Buy 3 kilograms (6.6 lb) of Bismuth. Bismuth is a fairly cheap metal but it is also very dense (it is often used as a substitute for lead).[1] As such, you should buy several pounds/kilograms of it, to ensure you have enough to do the experiment again if you want to. 
2 Have the right safety equipment around. The experiment does involve dealing with molten metal at a temperature of around 271 °C (520 °F). Like any liquid on a stove, it is not unusual for the metal to spatter and end up outside the vessel. As such, using appropriate safety equipment is extremely important.[3] This includes: 
3 Use a low-quality pot that you don’t mind not seeing clean again. Once you have melted the Bismuth in your pot, it’s highly unlikely that you will ever get that pot totally clean again so a cheap pot you don’t mind throwing out afterward is probably best.[4] 
4 Work outside if possible. Working outside will give you more freedom to make mistakes and also be much safer. 
1 Put the Bismuth in your pot and begin to heat the container. The melting point of Bismuth is 271 °C (520 °F) and it will take 10-20 minutes to get the Bismuth up to this temperature.[6] Use a fork to stir any remaining bits of Bismuth in with the rest of it. 
2 Scrape away the shiny layer that has formed on the Bismuth. The impurities in the Bismuth will rise to the top as the Bismuth melts. Once it is completely melted, these impurities will form a layer on top of the liquid. Use a spoon or other utensil to scrape this layer away and discard elsewhere on a non-flammable surface.[7] 
3 Turn off the heat once all the Bismuth is melted. In order to allow crystals to start forming the heat must be turned off. This occurs as the Bismuth starts moving back to a solid state from its molten state.[8] 
1 Wait for a solid layer to form on top. The Bismuth will cool from the outside in and a firm layer will form on top which should then be removed. Moving the pot unnecessarily can mean ending up with smaller crystals so try gently pushing on the top layer with a fork. This will give you an indication of whether a top layer has solidified or not.[9] 
2 Cool the Bismuth as slowly as possible for larger crystals. This can be done by insulating the pot from the outside as this is where most of the heat is lost. Placing the pot into a tin foil mold or into a pile of sand are both good options for insulation. 
3 Pour the rest of the liquid Bismuth into a separate bowl. As you have already removed the top layer, there will be a pool of liquid Bismuth underneath it. To create the largest crystals, pour the liquid out when the whole pot of Bismuth is about halfway between its molten and solid state.[10] 
4 Examine your crystals. Once you've removed the liquid from your pot, the Bismuth that solidified in the time you gave it will have formed crystals in your pot. These will initially appear to be silver but will quickly change color depending on the temperature that they were first exposed to oxygen at.[11]