How to Extract Bismuth Metal from Pepto-Bismol Tablets

In this video, I will demonstrate one method how to extract bismuth metal from Pepto-Bismol.
This is not my procedure. It is a scaled up version of the procedure posted by TheChemLife:
• Video
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Merch - nilered.tv/store
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
■ NileRed is now available on Nebula! go.nebula.tv/nilered
(when signing up with this link, a portion of your membership directly supports the channel)
Join the community:
Patreon - / nilered
Discord - / discord
NileRed Newsletter - nile.red/home#newsletter
You can also find me here:
Facebook - / nilered2
Instagram - / nile.red
Twitter - / nilered2
Nile talks about lab safety: • Chemistry is dangerous.

[@Funnymoney101]

That yield was... aBismol

[@givemesubssoicangetaplaybu5183]

get out

[@DocIlpalazzo]

Doors that way 👉

[@marylandweather4251]

U don’t belong here

[@spiderdude2099]

I'm here to tell you, you are a disappointment to your parents

[@JJHewable]

I... liked the comment. Gold star.

[@waaantonsoup]

It's nice doing bismuth with you

[@dasnogood2051]

MamamiaSauce WHY XD,

[@shiningarmor2838]

Steven Universe

[@auntbecky7649]

Waaan AHHHHHHHH

[@auntbecky7649]

I love a good dad joke

[@marylandweather4251]

You ALSO have to get out

[@Aichybatoal]

If you're trying this experiment, here's an extra bit of advice: try not to use an excess of HCl. Bismuth actually WILL dissolve in HCl (if oxygen is present, which it will be), so even after you've reduced the bismuth and filtered it out, put more aluminum in the "waste" acid solution, and you might reclaim some bismuth you didn't even know you lost! This might be where you lost some product, Nile.

[@veganviking4929]

Bismuth is by far one of the coolest metals.

[@novaimperius9084]

Vegan Viking Its radioactive.

[@ghostman7578]

Imperius Gaming and Science I dont think so

[@lukeehrkepiano5061]

GhOsT MaN it actually is but it’s half life is so long that it’s not a real danger to be around

[@Ballacha]

@Nova Imperius if you are human, bismuth is less radioactive than your own body.

[@MGFDSF62]

@@Ballacha jokes on you I'm 98% iron

[@TheFoodnipple]

Yeah you could just buy the metal but wheres the fun in that :)

[@km5405]

this is a really cool way to make it

[@TerminvsEst]

**buys a bunch of Pepto-Bismol** **cops show up at his house moments later**

[@NileRed]

TerminvsEst I feel like they would just feel more bad than suspicious of someone buying that much pepto

[@flaplaya]

*Breaking Bad reference?

[@Nick-tm2sw]

+TerminvsEst There isn't anything that I could think of that you could do illegal with pepto.

[@loganwilson3976]

+TerminvsEst lol

[@loganwilson3976]

+Nick Connors riiiight

[@cacervantes68]

instead of smelting the metal from below, you can carefully apply the torch inside the container. that would consume the oxygen in the container.

[@autumn2675]

andrewdini panda the thing is, most torches use that ambient oxygen. Torch will just go out

[@volcom7114]

I'm a Machinist and also took Biological warfar in college. I have been watching your videos for awhile now and I think your great at explaining everything going on and the why's n why boys to it all. Super👌🏽

[@NileRed]

+volcom7114 Thank you very much!

[@Creator_Nater]

Dennissippi it is best when war is far

[@NeemeVaino]

Cover the bismuth with fine charcoal powder before heating. Pour out into a dish of rosin - get lustrous, round granules. After cooling, wash rosin off with alcohol.

[@JoltFlyer]

Thanks for the tip! But does the charcoal intentionally get consumed during the heating process or does it prevent oxidation?

[@MrFshnutz]

I’ve never done chemistry in my life, and yet I’m addicted to these videos.

[@markyoung1816]

I started making bismuth crystals recently and was shocked at how much bismuth I was losing to dross/oxidation. Then I vaguely remembered Mr NileRed heating the oxidized bismuth powder to a much higher heat to reduce the bismuth. I recovered at least ¾ of the bismuth that was supposedly lost in the dross.

[@alllove1754]

I always enjoy your videos because you speak clearly, demonstrate clearly, and basically demonstrate professionalism while occasionally giving me a good laugh. You remind me of a friend of mine who now lives in Japan. I don't think it's the fact that you appear to have Asian roots, but that your voice is almost doppelgänger. Anyways... Without daring claim I know how to do any of the experiments you have done better, or even AS good as you have done, I thought I'd let you know a little ghettofied filtration I stumbled upon one day when I was out of coffee filters and needed them for a proper separation.. I ended up cutting similar to the coffee filter in size a piece of cotton off a tee shirt and found it worked better folded into a plug, jammed into the bottom of my makeshift funnel (water bottle). Like I said, ghettofied. But VERY effective. Even food dyes can be separated from the desired substrate via this method. Not always necessary, but sometimes absolutely necessary. I found you can even run things thru it more than once, but usually not necessary. Also, it can be washed by hand, using regular soap, though using my homemade soap that had just a little too much lye to be used for anything other than extreme hand washing or for cleaning that filter. If this helps, awesome. If you have better, teach me your ways oh wise one 🤗

[@thebestofall007]

NileRed, can bismuth crystals be grown through electrolysis of bismuth chloride like you did with stannous chloride?

[@iminlovewithmycar2389]

Wow imagine being smart cause I can't

[@Donald_Trump_2024]

@@iminlovewithmycar2389 what

[@RhodianColossus]

I was sipping on a shot glass of pepto bismol while watching this

[@vincedibona4687]

No you weren’t.

[@ShlisaShell]

Easy to understand. Crystal clear commentary. Nice video!

[@Breezeyheart]

I found the video to be very informative as I wasn't previously aware that Pepto-Bistmol had the metal, Bismuth in it. I don't like that others were trolling you and calling you stupid. That's not fair as I feel that you were being safe and showing how to do this experiment using this method.

[@kevinbyrne4538]

Glad to see that you're still producing videos. (BTW, wouldn't heating bismuth powder under a layer of powdered charcoal avoid the problem of oxidation of the bismuth?)

[@berry6473]

At this day, do you happen to know if that would work?

[@jupiter_ios]

hes still doing videos

[@onyoucho6076]

Hey! This video was awesome! Thanks for posting it. So... will you please explain a little bit more about the creation of the white and blue flames when bismuth meets the air at high temperature(or am I even right about this)?

[@TheRandomness707]

Did you see nighthawkinlight's video on his bismuth levitator?

[@NileRed]

1337_Vid305 Nope. Ill look at it now.

[@gastcast2959]

:-0 I can finally make it

[@NvrchFotia]

You could've just put the bismuth and the coffee filter in the crucible and heated them so the carbon would reduce the oxides.

[@rookiechemist5930]

nile red you are simply awesome

[@maxkopec]

Great video!! Greetings from Poland :D

[@jaden-se8pn]

You deserve waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay more subs

[@vincedibona4687]

Happy now? 😃

[@AFrogInTheStars]

This video is like when you’re writing your draft for an essay, and the most recent bismuth metal video is the final draft

[@SlurponMuhdickKillTheState]

Well done.

[@ubasuteyurei7824]

An interesting but extremely time and money effective waste of time. Thanks for the vid

[@GreatGloves]

Greetings from Finland!

[@enzotherobot6556]

when you sick and you take Pepto-Bismol and you realize you are "digesting" a space alien

[@mr.friday8011]

noot noot Great, as if I wanted to get more sick

[@redlink4549]

EnZo The Robot I get it, thats a Steven universe reference right?

[@jamiehughes5573]

Pleasure doing bismuth with you

[@mintymarshmallowssquish529]

I’m crying

[@tomomelia4303]

Sooo put your poop in the crucipal

[@sheltonregismarianayagam205]

YOU'RE THE MAN!!!!!!

[@sorsorscience0787]

i enjoy your videos on extraction with pharmaceuticals

[@NileRed]

+Sor Sor Science07 thanks. I will try to do more. I will eventually extract niacin from Vitamin B3 pills.

[@sorsorscience0787]

Nile Red Cool, i cant wwait!

[@pigfigjig]

Nile red ..mate I have one for you..how do you extract the local anaesthetic from hemeroid creams.properly

[@Nick-tm2sw]

You could use vacuum filtration to speed up filtration through the finer filter papers.

[@wikto8145]

+Nick Connors Or just use a coffee filter...Like a normal person

[@aspenizayah3740]

Please make an All About Bismuth video!

[@get5killch3cked]

NileRed, i've ran out of your video's to rewatch again, including blue, got a wicked sinus infection so sleep is just a thing i cant get properly.

[@TheXenProject]

I boiled my filtered bismuth chloride for 10 minutes. It turned from an opaque yellow to a clear deep green, and seems to react differently with the aluminum since I imagine I drove off the remaining HCl that would pentrate the aluminum oxide on the foil. It also sank straight to the bottom rather than floating.

[@robertmonroe9728]

The yield of bismuth in this case is very small. I do propose another more efficient way to make reduction by bithmut oxalate. White powder simply disappears, remaining liquid metal. Carbon dioxide as a by-product creates inert atmosphere and prevents oxidation.

[@zenmanproject]

This is awesome. I'm more interested in the Bismuth Chloride for a project I'm working on. (BiCl3 is expensive!) At 2:17, before you put the aluminum in, how do you get the BiCl3 salt to fall out of solution?

[@GoldSrc_]

Science, witchcraft that works :D.

[@geekgamer1869]

Gordon Freeman yep

[@joeyouyang]

Chemistry

[@porterchristenson4835]

I saw this on a buzzfeed video wondering why. I immediately thought of your channel.

[@omaroabuawwad]

I Love your vids , Keep it up, I may need your help in my organic lab at some points :P

[@NileRed]

omar abuawwad Thanks!

[@Sabbelwakker]

Cool video. Just don't mix up your hydrochloric with your perchloric acid. ;-)

[@autumn2675]

Sabbel Wakker did you do that yourself?

[@libertariamemes]

Nice way to make bismuth oxide, the black powder is elemental bismuth?

[@oskioskowski9184]

Yes.

[@somerandomguy84]

Very cool. I'm a high school teacher and would love to try something like this in class. However, I often try to avoid HCl use. Any alternatives? And it is it absolutely necessary to use the methanol at the end? Thanks.

[@ScienceWithJames]

Nikhil Krishna The HCl seems required as it changes the bismuth in Pepto into bismuth chloride. It seems very hard to avoid acids like this to do "real" chemistry. HCl actually isnt that bad compared to Sulfuric or Nitric. You could keep it on your skin for about 50 seconds before burning, as Nile made a video about.

[@sarabeth641]

Is there a reason you don't use hydrochloric acid? Stomach acid is hydrochloric acid, potassium chloride, and sodium chloride. If it's inside you, it's not that bad. Our stomach has a lining, of course, but that's why we have gloves (:

[@henryjiang9664]

Sara Cox It’s retarded that the supervision are breath down their necks. They’re just afraid of getting sued or stuff like that

[@ainteasya]

Dude you're amazing at this? What school did you go to? Are you a phD student?

[@SupremeScience]

I'm glad I found you and your videos! What institution are you at?

[@NileRed]

+Chemistryisthegame Right now I am not at any. I am a rogue garage chemist

[@stevez4975]

+GamingwithSid There is actually a large community of amateur chemists and that show makes it difficult to be one, I have heard this joke for about 8 years and it was funny for the first month give it up! ;)

[@nobodynobody8861]

+Nile Red you are the shit man press sub till thumb is raw and bloody

[@NileRed]

Nobody Nobody haha thanks :)

[@MyYoutubeChannelPage]

thanks Jessey

[@DavidFMayerPhD]

To prevent oxidation, simply fill container with the outflow from an argon cylinder. Sure, you use up the argon, but you do not need to build a container to keep air out. NOTHING reacts with argon under such circumstances.

[@masacatior]

Exactly! Up to argon and above nothing is a understatement. Xenon reacts with fluorine though, not easily.

[@robinhooper7702]

Ok cool, nice work. I guess the only reason I would want to extract bismuth is to have a magnet be repelled by it. Thanks for the nomenclature in regards to the chemical process/interactions. Nice job buddy.

[@silentpaw]

I was hoping it would form a really cool Bismuth crystal formation.

[@JoltFlyer]

Would heating the elementary powder to exactly 270 degrees celcius melt it, using a heating plate? Or does the high surface area not allow that and it oxidizes already at lower temperature?

[@spookywizard4980]

What kind of torch were you using? mine doesn't seem to be hot enough to heat up the container AND melt the bismuth, it only makes the container red hot and the bismuth doesnt melt

[@psychokitty190]

II wish I understood chemistry better,would love to have my own giant homemade bismuth geode.Sure I could buy the metal offline but this looks way more fun.

[@tinypanther3320]

So is it also in the liquid bottles one or just tablets

[@SiskinOnUTube]

Interesting metal.

[@6LordMortus9]

Can you use the salicylic acid in the process of aspirin to Tylenol? EDIT: Just realized that's an extra product in the process... could it be used in the opposite direction? :)

[@joulesjams20]

With Bismuth oxide could you heat it up with some Carbon (Charcoal) to make Bismuth and Carbon Dioxide. I just thought of this as it is the classic metal extraction process.

[@capuchinfriarsusa]

"Just go on ebay and buy some." That is an instruction I can understand.

[@swabianscience]

You said that the bismuth oxide is breaking down at very high temperature, but Wikipedia says that it doesn't break down very easily and even boils before breaking down. Is it possible that it's reduced by the steel of the crucible ? Edit: The molten glob could also be bismuth oxide, it has a melting point of 817°C

[@ThePeterDislikeShow]

I suspect it was reacting with the carbon monoxide given off by the flame. Carbothermal reduction is a way of extracting bismuth from bismuth oxide.

[@TR19]

Got a nice big Urban Meyer flask there.

[@ryanknebl1622]

When the aluminum is reacting with the leftover HCl, is the Aluminum Chloride mixed in with the bismuth? Is there a way to get rid of it?

[@bpark10001]

What about adding a flux such as borax or silver solder flux to the crucible to prevent oxidation?

[@quoverlord9398]

Can this be done with Sulfuric Acid and in turn Bismuth Sulfate? Or is the concentration of the H2SO4 too much?

[@KnakuanaRka]

When you were grinding the pills, did you not have a coffee grinder available?

[@markiangooley]

Liquid Pepto-Bismol doesn't contain bismuth last I checked. Dollar store versions generally do. I wonder if they'll take it out of the pills eventually.

[@shadkaamahmed9931]

it's just so cool how you narrate your videos as if you were writing a paper or a patent. 😂

[@theginginator1488]

Is it possible to use low current electrolysis to isolate the bismuth crystals directly?

[@epicminecraftdude13]

If you repeated the oxide back to metal process a few times, would it become more pure?

[@ProjektOchExperiment]

Awesome!!!

[@tropicaljf]

If you know of a way, you should make a video of how to extract aluminum from alum

[@maryudomah4387]

Would the liquid pepto bismal have worked, too? Or would the flavoring get in the way? If there is any... blegh.

[@christopherscotts5797]

So, I tried to recreate the experiment but I washed with ethanol. Then I tried to neutralize all the acid in my filtrate with bicarbonate and a really pretty color purple/lavender (crystaline) showed up while the reaction bubled as usual. Anyone got a theory of what could have happened im worried I made something dangerous but low key want to do it again cause it was a really colorful

[@stephenjacks8196]

Yes, you can buy Bismuth. Noting that even Walmart has replacement (ROH) lead shot which is 90% Bismuth & 10% Tin. Levitates above a magnet like Bi, but this alloy doesn't make cool crystals. And be careful, Bi is now considered to be radioactive.

[@toxicpsychotic6356]

the only naturally occurring isotope of bismuth is thousands of times less radioactive than human flesh, so it isn't a safety concern at all. for pretty much any practical purpose it can be considered to be completely non-radioactive.

[@AntiiNea]

None of your bismuth

[@blasumlily3485]

please tell me you cane from the awkwardmarina music video. So awesome

[@liquidsleepgames3661]

@@blasumlily3485 ok mike tyson

[@lorettarodman9117]

hey Im going to be presenting this as a future lab in my chem 111 I hope thats okay. Is there a specific name to this reaction? Is there any reason you think a college level chemistry class shouldn't try this?

[@urkinpro]

Hey, could you please make a video on how to extract silver from AgNO3?

[@jasonpatterson8091]

urkinpro It's super easy. Make a solution of silver nitrate, put a piece of copper wire in it, collect the silver crystals that form.

[@urkinpro]

Jason Patterson Could you please explain why this method works? BTW I'm a bachelor in chemical engineering so I'd be happy to read an in-depth explanation :) Thanks in advance

[@Headshotted718]

It's actually really simple, the bond of copper to a nitrate group is stronger than that of a silver to nitrate bond, so you end up with a solution of copper nitrate, and solid state silver metal. Look up "silver tree". It's a simple demonstration of this reaction.

[@JayMark2049]

urkinpro It's a simple redox reaction between the two metals. Silver has a higher reduction potential than copper so it will oxidize it forming silver metal.

[@jasonpatterson8091]

urkinpro As JayMark2049 wrote, it's a classic redox reaction. The copper gives electrons to the silver ions in solution and you get Ag atoms and Cu2+ ions. You can use a number of materials for this (aluminum works, for instance, and much more rapidly) but copper and silver work nicely because copper is not hugely different in reduction potential from silver, so the reaction goes forward at a fairly slow rate and you get decent silver crystals and a fairly clean solution of copper (II) nitrate.

[@thebestofall007]

Would this procedure work with the liquid pepto bismol?

[@justTJRoots]

Would the Salicylic acid that you filter out be suitable for use in your method for making Picric acid as a substitue for the phenol?

[@NileRed]

+justTJRoots It might be. If it is recrystallized first, then it is probably good enough.

[@justTJRoots]

+Nile Red OK thanks for the reply. your videos are awesome.

[@NileRed]

justTJRoots thanks!

[@kkozzy]

How did you get rid of the aluminum that erroded in the HCl solution?

[@kowalityjesus]

your science teacher must have loved you... ; )

[@TubeNotMe]

Reminds me of the demonstrations of getting gold from electronic parts -- neat, but not only is it expensive, it takes time, effort, and messing with powerful acids. Hurray for KZbin, where we can just watch someone else show it can be done. 8)

[@__dm__]

Doesn't this rely on the fact that the HCl solution will dissolve the aluminum bits that remain in the mixture after removing the big chunks? Would the final product be contaminated with Al?

[@NileRed]

dongimin2 Yeah, it does. But there is so much excess HCl that if you leave it out and there is no bubbling, then it should be fine. Also, the bismuth you get from this is not going to be great quality and it is not cost efficient. It is more of a proof of concept than anything.

[@TheStonerman123]

could you use pepto bismol liquid for this?

[@DannyTVoriginal]

Pepto isn't available in germany but since it works 4 me i had it shipped via international pharmacy and I had to pay 35$ for a 8 fl.oz. bottle!

[@erikschiegg68]

Did you save the waste product Aspirin?

[@wyattbuckbee7766]

Also can this be done with liquid pep to Bismol?

[@ThomasAndersonbsf]

been looking for info on plating with bismuth metal, any ideas?

[@old-bitprogaming4857]

I think a glowing yellow hot thing is less accessible than nitrogen which is the air inside the chips bags

[@louispipercarson9630]

Is the aluminum oxide in the final product? It's insoluble in water, so unless I missed a step it should remain in the pre-melted mass.

[@Creator_Nater]

Louis Piper Carson Yuck!

[@FutureAIDev2015]

I could adapt this to extract calcium from Tums tablets! Tums are made of calcium carbonate and various flavors, so I could use hydrochloric acid to convert the carbonate to calcium chloride, then filter the solution through a coffee filter. The remainder can then be reacted with aluminum foil to (hopefully) precipitate calcium while leaving aluminum chloride in solution.

[@NileRed]

+Matthew Ferrie The biggest issue is that Ca is reactive with water, so I dont think that would work. Also, the reduction potential of Al is less than that of Ca, so it most likely wont even do the displacement. Youll need to use a different method unfortunately.

[@FutureAIDev2015]

+Nile Red Hmmm...To Google!

[@FutureAIDev2015]

+Nile Red Maybe a series of single replacements would work. Perhaps, for example, reacting the tablets with citric acid to make calcium citrate, then reacting that with potassium chloride to form calcium chloride and potassium citrate. After that, I'm not sure what to do.

[@NileRed]

Matthew Ferrie apparently how it is made is by heating calcium oxide (CaO) with aluminum (dry).

[@FutureAIDev2015]

+Nile Red Then, I could probably heat the calcium carbonate (not sure what that'll do)?

[@yourboi1842]

Would the bismuth oxide make good thermite?

[@shawnbarry5553]

Can you make asprin (acetylsalicylic acid) from the remaining salycilic acid? How would you go about doing that?

[@hans5987]

He never answered😔

[@KorvekKorborjordordon]

For people asking on how to make LSD, here's how: Materials: 1. Ergotamine tartrate 2. Hydrazine hydrate 3. Hydrazide 4. Hydrochloric Acid 5. Sodium Nitrite 6. Sodium Bicarbonate 7. Diethylamine 8. Ether 9. Flasks 10. Filter paper 11. Heating mantle 12. 2 liter three-necked round bottom flask Time: Approximately 36 hours. Process: STEP 1: In a 2 liter three-necked round bottom flask add to 2 grams of ergotamine tartrate about 1/2 gram of hydrazine hydrate. Exercise caution when adding the hydrazine hydrate because it is very poisonous, particularly to the eyes. STEP 2: Place a condensing column on one neck of the flask. Place a stirring device in the center neck and place a separatory funnel in the thick neck. (Note: hydrazide hydrate may be added through a separatory funnel although it is not necessary.) STEP 3: Place the flask on a heating mantle and simmer the solution for 2-3 hours while stirring occasionally. STEP 4: Remove condensing column from flask and continue to cook for 10-15 minutes or until the original solution is reduced by half. STEP 5: After solution has cooled, pour the solution through filter paper and collect the crystals that formed. Wash the crystals in a small amount of absolute alcohol. STEP 6: Dissolve the crystals in about 30cc of diluted hydrochloric acid. (Note: diluted hydrochloric acid is mixed at a rate of 1 part acid to 10 or 15 parts water.) STEP 7: To the hydrochloric acid solution add about 15cc of a solution of sodium nitrite diluted in water. (Note: one part sodium nitrite to 10 or 15 parts water.) Let this solution stand for about 30 minutes. STEP 8: To this solution add about one teaspoonful of sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) to make the solution basic. STEP 9: Place this solution in a separatory funnel and add to it an equal quantity of ether. Shake this solution gently for about 5 minutes. STEP 10: Separate the ether solution from the separatory funnel and keep the ether solution. The remainder may be discarded. STEP 11: Cool the ether solution to 0 degrees Celsius and to the solution add a solution of about .5 gram of diethylamine mixed with ether. STEP 12: Maintain the solution at 0 degrees Celsius for 24 hours, stirring it occasionally (perhaps 4 hour intervals.) STEP 13: Remove the solution from the ice bath and allow it to stand at room temperature for about 2 hours, or until it evaporates. The remaining crystals will be crude LSD. Obviously you should not attempt this method without at least some first-year state level Chemistry. Please be careful, this ingredients are DEADLY PS - Breathing in the fumes of these chemicals can send you tripping.... where a mask and gogles and do all chemestry in an air tight area!

[@diablotry5447]

Fuck off you drug addict

[@worldfilledwithmore]

What happened to the other Bismuth video?

[@quasar.nebula]

You've probably already seen, but it's here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y5DUoa18odWaptE From the pinned comment: "I had to take down and re-upload this video because of a few editing errors, as well as some major problems with the Patreon credits. I hope it's all better now."

[@ThePeterDislikeShow]

What about reducing the bismuth oxide with carbon?

[@remaker80]

Do you know old speakers? The metal that stick to the magnet looks like bismuth is that bismuth?

[@StormsplaysMC]

Whats the pill think you use for stirring i would love to get one for myself

[@N0M4dIC1RST]

+Alex V-P (harlyg) I got myself a very nice (if a bit used) model off ebay for 60$. Well, it was a "as is, doesn't work" item but I fixed it in 5 minutes.

[@N0M4dIC1RST]

***** I live in Canada, so as far as lab equipment is concerned, I might as well live in a pineapple under the sea. I get around it using a forwarding service in Nevada.Now, all the lab equipment from the US west coast is available. As for the stirrer hot plate, it was ridiculously simple. The stirrer was working, but the hot plate was not, and the thermostat knob felt loose. Opened it up, found a few loose screws in the thermostat mecanism (which is simplest thing: a metal bar that makes contact when it bends under heat). Tightened the screws, and it works like a charm. It's a bit of a risk, but there is a lot of good stuff that is broken and thrown out at low prices. At lot of time it is easily repairable by anyone handy enough, and since hot plate stirrers are such simple devices, they are just very good buys. I now generally buy my lab stuff new from China. I already have a good supply line for my commerce so I can just load the stuff on my pallet and get it much cheaper, especially glassware. Much cheaper than even ebay. However, some stuff is still very expensive even in China, like analytical balances. So having an eye on ebay is still a good thing.

[@tanmaysinha8138]

Could you do a video showing Formation of bismuth crystals? Just Google bismuth crystals and see how they look.

[@The5thorseman]

I've got allot of what I assume is bismuth oxide since it formed on the surface of the bismuth while it was melted, but it isn't yellow like yours was. It's more of a gray color. Do you still think I'll be able to dissolve it in HCL and put in aluminum to get my bismuth back?

[@EATxDAxPUPU]

+The5thorseman try it out

[@The5thorseman]

MuscleCarOz I got some back, but the rest seemed to oxidize way faster than it normally would. Actually, it also turned yellow while it was hot and went gray when it cooled. But usually you get a skin on the top, but this was a powder and had oxygen at all angles, y'know? Regardless, it was a fairly interesting experiment.

[@martingardener]

To get an inert atmosphere simply point the blowtorch flame directly onto the Bismuth. It excludes all the oxygen.

[@Nick-tm2sw]

+Martin Gardener It also adds a bunch of impurities that aren't inert. Oxygen isn't the only thing to worry about.

[@Brastius]

When you grabbed the aluminum from the flask you were holding it by the bismuth end.