Reactions of Bismuth [Bi3+]

Deshan · Last edited by Deshan on Fri Jul 31, 2009 1:34 am; edited 1 time in total

Aqueous Ammonia

Aqueous ammonia reacts with bismuth(III) ion to precipitate white bismuth hydroxide:

Bi3+(aq) + 3NH3(aq) + 3H2O(aq) <==> Bi(OH)3(s) + 3NH4+(aq)

Sodium Hydroxide

Sodium hydroxide reacts with bismuth(III) ion to produce a precipitate of Bi(OH)3.

Bi3+(aq) + 3OH-(aq) <==> Bi(OH)3(s)

Deshan · Posted: Fri Jul 31, 2009 1:32 am Post subject:

Water

Compounds of Bi3+ hydrolyze readily in dilute solutions, especially when chloride ion is present, to form a white precipitate of BiOCl:

Bi3+(aq) + Cl-(aq) + H2O(l) <==> BiOCl(s) + 2H+(aq)

An acid should be added to aqueous solutions of bismuth(III) salts to prevent this precipitation.

Stannite Ion

Stannite ion reduces bismuth hydroxide to small black particles of metallic bismuth:

2Bi(OH)3(s) + 3Sn(OH)42-(aq) <==> 2Bi(s) + 3Sn(OH)62-(aq)