BISMUTH SULFIDE

Chemical properties

Blackish brown powder

Physical properties

Brownish black orthogonal crystal; density 6.78 g/cm³; hardness 2 Mohs; melts at 850°C; insoluble in water; soluble in acids.

Occurrence

Bismuth sulfide occurs in nature as the mineral bismuthinite (bismuth glance). It is used as a starting material to produce many other bismuth compounds.

The Uses of BISMUTH SULFIDE

Bismuth(III) sulfide is used as a starting material to produce other bismuth compounds. It is used in glass industry as a colorant, electronic ceramics, scintillator BGO and in superconductors.

Preparation

The compound occurs in nature as mineral bismuthinite. It can be prepared in the laboratory by passing hydrogen sulfide into a solution of bismuth chloride or any soluble bismuth salt:
2BiCl₃ + 3H₂S → Bi₂S₃ + 6HCl
Alternatively, bismuth sulfide may be obtained by melting a mixture of bismuth and sulfur.
2Bi + 3S → Bi₂S₃

General Description

Bismuth(III) sulphide can be precipitated by hydrogen sulphide from bismuth solutions. 1

Flammability and Explosibility

Non flammable