Bismuth(III) iodide facts for kids
Bismuth(III) iodide, also known as bismuth triiodide, is a chemical compound. It is made of two different elements: bismuth and iodine. Its chemical formula is BiI3. This means each molecule has one bismuth atom and three iodine atoms. Bismuth in this compound has a charge of +3.
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What it Looks Like and How it Behaves
Bismuth(III) iodide is usually a dark gray solid. Sometimes, you might see it as a pale yellow color. It does not dissolve in water. This means if you put it in water, it will not disappear or mix in. Instead, it stays as a solid. This compound can also react with other iodide chemicals. When it does, it forms new substances called iodobismuth(III) ions.
How it is Made
Scientists can make bismuth(III) iodide in a few ways.
- One way is to mix bismuth powder with iodine. These two elements react together to create the compound.
- Another method involves reacting bismuth(III) oxide with hydroiodic acid. Hydroiodic acid is a strong acid that contains hydrogen and iodine.
- It can also be made by mixing bismuth(III) chloride with any iodide. An example of an iodide is potassium iodide.
What it Was Used For
Bismuth(III) iodide was once used to test for bismuth. If you had a liquid that might contain bismuth, you could add potassium iodide to it. If bismuth was present, a dark gray solid would form. This solid was bismuth(III) iodide. This reaction helped scientists confirm if bismuth ions were in a sample.
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See also
In Spanish: Yoduro de bismuto para niños
