171 



BISMUTH. 



BISSEXTILE. 



in 



Nitric acid combine* with teroxide of bismuth in tlnvt 

 If metallic bUroutli. or the teroxide, be treated with nitric noid in 

 excess, soluble temitnte of bismuth is funned (in the former cue 

 with erolutioo of nitrogen oxides^ if the acid be not too dilute. On 

 evaporating such a solution of ternitrate in nitric add at a gentle heat, 

 :< tnuwparent prismatic crystals are formed, containing nine or 

 ten equivalent* of water. Both the crystallined tcrnitrate and its 

 solution in nitric acid may be diatolved in nitric acid without decom- 

 position. Water decomposes the salt in both conditions ; the amount 

 of decomposition effected in the latter case depending upon the quan- 

 tity of free nitric acid present. The white powder thrown down by 

 water from a solution of the ternitrate is the monmiitrale BiOJNO,-!- HO, 

 which i tin- Bismuth-white or Pearl-white of the arts, also called the 

 Magistery of Bismuth, and used as a cosmetic. It is prepared com- 

 mercially by boiling dilute nitric acid with bismuth until no more is 

 taken up, adding water until a precipitate begins to form, filtering, and 

 adding from SO to 100 times as much water by weight as there is 

 metallic bi.-iiiuth in solution. The precipitated mononitrate is col- 

 lected un a filter, washed with cold water, and dried- between blotting- 

 paper. It is a white powder, of pearly lustre, and crystalline 

 ooustituence. According to Becker (' Ann. Phann.' 68, 282), nitric 

 acid combines with bismuth in three other proportions, namely, 

 5 810,4X0, + !>HO (and5BiO,4NO, + 12HO), 6 BiO.,5NO, + 9HO,and 

 4BK>,8NO ( +HO. 



The teroxide of bismuth forms salts with ordinary bibanic and 

 monobasic jiliotphoric acids; these bodies, however, have been but 

 little examined. The same may be said of the bromate and iodate ; 

 the former, obtained by treating hydrated teroxide with bromic acid, 

 has the composition 3 BiO, 2 BrO a + 6 HO, and is insoluble (there is also 

 a more acid bromate) ; the latter, formed by double decomposition, 

 is a white powder, insoluble in water. 



Carbonate of bitmxtk occurs in nature. The composition of the 

 native carbonate is doubtful A monobasic carbonate is precipitated 

 as a white insoluble powder, on mixing a solution of the nitrate with 

 one of an alkaline carbonate ; its composition is BiO,C0 9 + HO. 



Bararic and Silicic acids combine with the teroxide of bismuth, both 

 are insoluble in water ; the former is obtained by double decomj 

 the Litter occurs in nature as bismuth-blende (BiO,2 SiO,), in minute 

 dodecahedral crystals of dark yellow colour, contaminated with arsenic, 

 cobalt, copper, iron, and manganese. 



Qitatlro>ci<ir of llttmutk (BiO.) U a brown powder, formed l>y Ixiiliiif; 

 the hydrated teroxide with the chlorite of an alkali containing an 

 excess of alkali If teroxide of bismuth be thrown upon fused caustic. 

 potash it dissolves, and undergoes further oxidation by the oxygen 

 which the potash acquires from tho air. After cooling, the mass is 

 exhausted with water, which removes the excess of potash, and leaves 

 a yellow insoluble body of the composition K0 BiOj, 2BiO w being the 

 bimuthate of bitmuth Brown and purple compounds of 



potash with the tcr- and pent-oxides of bismuth have been also 

 formed. 



Pentode of Bitmuth, or binnuthic add (BiO t ), is formed by fusing 

 hydrate of soda with teroxide of bismuth ; boiling the product 

 with caustic soda, and washing the brown powder so formed, which 

 is probably a bismuthate of bismuth and soda, with nitric acid, 

 which removes the teroxide and soda, and finally with water. IHs- 

 muthic acid is a brown powder, which gives off oxygen when heated 

 alone, or when 'treated with sulphuric or phosphoric acids. It 

 evolves chlorine from hydrochloric acid ; in all cases being reduced to 

 the teroxide. 



doubtful whether bismuth combines with liydroyea alone. If 

 bismuth form the negative pole of a lattery in a decomposition cell 

 containing water, a black arborescent crust is obtained. 



The most important haloid compounds of bismuth arc the chloride, 

 bromide, iodide, and sulphide. 



( 'lil.,mlf "f /lltuti't'i (ftiCL). Powdered bismuth, when thrown into 

 dry chlorine gas, takes fire, burning with a blue flame, and forming a 

 gray-white, granular, easily fusible mass, which may be volatilised 

 without decomposition in an atmosphere of carbonic acid. Tho same 

 substance is funned by dissolving the teroxide in hydrochloric acid, 

 evaporating, and distilling. The vapour density of tercliloride of 

 ih U 11-35. By gently evaporating a solution in hydrochloric 

 acid, a crystalline terhydrate of the terchloridc is formed. Both the 

 anhydrous and hydraUd chlorides are decomposed by water, a portion 

 c.f tin- bismuth U-ing precipitated as OxycUoride of bitmuth (BL,C1,0,), 

 a white crystalline |>owdcr, fusible at a red heat The same oxychli iridH 

 may be foimed by precipitating ternitrate of bismuth with hydrochloric 

 acid, or an alkaline chloride. 



Bromine does not act so energetically as chlorine upon bismuth. 

 T.> effect the union of the two, powdered bismuth is heated in a tube 

 with an excess of bromine. The trrbromidt nfbitmulk (BiBr,) so formed 

 U freed from excess of bromine by a gentle heat. On cooling, the pure 

 tcrbrouiidc solidifies to a grey maw of lubmetallio lustre, ft fuses at 

 392* Fahr., and volatilises at a red heat It abstracts the water from 

 muist air, and is converted into a hydrate. Like the chloride, it ix 

 decomposed by a larger quantity of water, oxybrouiide of bismuth 

 being in this caw formed. 



Trriodidt ofljimulJt (Bit,). If a solution of iodide of potaawum be 

 added to a soluble salt of the teroxide of bismuth, and the formation 



of basic salts hindered by the addition of acetic acid, a brown crystalline 

 body wparates out ; this U the teriodide of bismuth. The teriodide is 

 slowly decomposed by cold water ; boiling water decomposes it quickly, 

 a red insoluble oryiodide ( Bi ,I,O e ) being formed. Teriodide of bismuth 

 dissolves in aqueous hydriodic add* ; evaporation of such a * 

 yields the hydrated hydriodate of tkt teriodide (BiI,,H I . + .-Hi ) i. 



i iodides of bismuth, containing lew iodine than the teriodidc, 

 are formed by heating iodine with powdered bismuth ; their compo- 

 sition in doubtful. 



Sulphur combines in two proportions with bismuth. The bW/JuWr 

 of bitmuth (BiS,) is obtained in the form of quadratic prism*, of grey 

 metallic lustre and of specific gravity 7'29, by fusing 10 parts of 

 powdered bismuth with 3 parts of sulphur, and again fusing the mam 

 no obtained two or three times with fresh portions of sulpln 

 i Hiiekly cooling from the hut fusion, a nest of crystals of the bisulphide 

 are found in the interior of the mass. 



The ' '..../,;i"A. liiS. . occurs in nature as bismuth glance. 



It is formed artificially by precipitating bismuth from notation 

 tersalts with sulphuretted hydrogen. If sulphur and bismuth IH: 

 fused together this compound is also formed ; but all these varieties 

 of the tersulphide lose sulphur when heated, being reduced to the 

 bisulphide. Bismuth glance is of a lead grey colour, of specific 

 gravity 6' 5 ; it belongs to the right prismatic system. 



Selenium, phosphorus, antimony, arsenic, and tellurium, combim 

 directly with bismuth in indefinite proportions, as also d> tin 

 potassium and sodium. 



If the point of contact of two bars, one of bismuth and the other 

 <>f antimony, be heated, and the other extremities metallic?!! 

 nected, an electric current circulates through the system. AH 

 Btich pairs constitutes the thermomulliplier. 



l'r the organic compounds of bismuth, see OBOANOJIETAI.I.IC 

 Bora t 



Bismuth iu solution may be distinguished from all other me 

 the conjunction of the following reactions: 1. It is precipitate 1 from 

 acid solutions by sulphuretted hydnwn. '-'. The sulphide in insoluble 

 in alkalies and their sulphides. 8. The sulphide is soluble iu nitric 

 acid. 4. The chloride is soluble in dilute hydrochloric acid. 5. The 

 oxide is precipitated by ammonia from the ternitrate, terclih >i 

 tersulphate, and is insoluble in excess of that reagent 6. All soluble 

 salts are decomposed on being dropped into a large quantity of water, 

 insoluble basic salts being formed. 



BISMUTH, MEDICAL USES OP. Bismuth taken into the 

 stomach in the state of a metal produces no effect upon the human 



' . It is therefore in the form of one of its preparations ' 

 is employed as a medicinal agent; and for this purpose the sub- 1> 

 called also the mayistery of bismuth, and also, incorrectly, the white 

 oxide of bismuth, is generally preferred. This is a white powder, 

 sometimes iu lumps resembling chalk, inodorous and tasteless. It in 

 insoluble in water, and but slightly if at all soluble in the juices of the 

 stomach, a circumstance which accounts for its limited sphere of action ; 

 ilx employment is almost entirely confined to affections of tho 

 stomach itself. In large doses, however, it is undoubtedly poi- 



M luces vomiting, with small pulse, faint ings, and even death, the 

 stomach exhibiting erosions and signs of inflammation. Even i: 

 external application is not free from danger, for the cosmetic termed 

 pearl white, or Spanish trhite, which is subnitrate of bismuth, when 

 applied for a length of time to the face, causes nervous twit. 

 and finally jiaralysis. Subnitrate of bismuth isconsi'i, ,,,,! i,, 



nervous pains and cramps of the stomach it is decidedly :a\- 

 In what is termed ne, or with one f.-: 



opium, it is in general more efficacious than any other mean.- in s]vdily 

 removing the pain. It is also sometimes useful in pyrosit, r*|>ccially if 

 complicate! with affections of the pancreas. In this case it is adv. in 

 tageously combined with rhubarb. Extract of hops is a!- 

 priate vehicle for it. In combination with magnesia it i- -:.:tid by 

 Dr. Theophilus Thompson to bo useful ill the diiirihea of phtlr i. 

 pulmotialis. Being insoluble hi water it can never be administered in 

 that vehicle. 



Its employment has been proposed in hysteria, tetanus, and inter- 

 mittent fever, but its utility in very slight when the cause of 

 diseases is remote from the stomach. In case of an overdose, tea, 

 white of egg, or milk, arc the beat antidotes. As j < I Ink 



cned by sulphuretted hydrogen, tl: 'hose who employ this 



cosmetic is blackened by the use of the Harrowgatc or other sulphu- 

 reous waters. 



I;ISMITIIK: Arm. (KISMITM.] 



BISSKXTl ].!'.. or ltISSl-:\Ti;s IMi ! iu the 



Roman calendar, after it* reformation l.\ .1. ( ';esar, to the int. 

 day which was inserted every fourth y, H between the 24th and -J.'itli 

 uary. The L'ltli of February was expressed according to the 

 Roman reckoning, "sexto Calendas Marti!," that is, the sixth day 

 before the Calends, or first of March. AVhcn the intercalary day was 

 inserted it was also called " sexto Calendas Martii ; " and as the name 

 was thus repeated, this day was called the Inmcjlnt diet, or the sixth 

 day twice over. In legal reckoning, as to the birth uf a child, the 

 24th and follow ing day in the bissextile year were considered in tho 

 Roman law as one day. (See ' Dig.,' 4, tit. 4. 3.) In Greek, this day 

 was called in&6\ipu>s W/w> which signifies the same as intercalated day. 



