Bismuth Research Paper

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Bismuth Bismuth is the eighty-third element on the periodic table. It was first discovered in the Middle Ages, and was initially believed to be simply a development of lead, but was later discovered to be an individual, unique element, by a metallurgist named Georgius Agricola in the 16th century (“Metals.” 158). Bismuth is a member of the heavy metal family, and is the heaviest of all the heavy metals, as well as being the only non-toxic member of its family (Banks 122).It is a shiny, silvery, white metal with a pink tint to it, and is extremely brittle in its solid form. Bismuth also expands as it solidifies, a property that is quite uncommon with most elements. Bismuth will begin to combine with oxygen at room temperature, and bismuth will …show more content…

“The Mineral Revolution,” a term coined by the cosmetic company, Bare Escentuals, began in the 1970s (Levitt). This company released a type of powdered foundation made up of several chemical compounds, including zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, and bismuth oxychloride, amongst others (“Sephora: BareMinerals”). Bismuth oxychloride forms as a product of the reaction of bismuth with oxygen and chlorine ("Bismuth (revised)."). This compound is a solid substance that is white in colour (see Figure 1). When ground into a fine powder, it becomes a light and shimmery pigment that is able to be used for cosmetics. Bismuth oxychloride can either be used straightforwardly as a substance, or as part of a mixture, often with other chemical compounds like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide (“Sephora: BareMinerals”). Mineral cosmetics have grown increasingly popular since this introduction by Bare Escentuals, renowned for its “natural” appearance by celebrities (Levitt). The popularity of this type of cosmetics acts as a driving force economically, providing leverage to companies that stock and sell

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