What do you know about bismuth? You know it's beautiful in its crystalline form, and it's one the active ingredients in Pepto-Bismol. Beyond that, there's a lot of interesting things to learn about this element.
Belly aches aside, bismuth salts have been used since the 1700s to treat such ailments as diarrhea and to alleviate the symptoms of cholera. As Pepto-Bismol it has saved more than human lives. During the aftermath of the Deepwater Horizon disaster sea birds were force fed the substance to expel the oil they had ingested while trying to remove it from their feathers.
Although it has been known since ancient times the word bismuth seems to have first appeared in the late 17th century. Alchemists made some use of it medieval times. The miners who dug out the ore called it tectum argenti. This literally translates as silver being made. They believed that bismuth was a half-way house form of silver – in the process of being formed but not yet finished. The beauty of the crystals is testament, most certainly, to why they may have thought that.
Learn more facts about bismuth, and see a collection of gorgeous bismuth crystals at Kuriositas.
(Image credit: Flickr user David Abercrombie)