Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 5, 2026

Bismuth hydroxide

Bismuth hydroxide is a non-fully characterised chemical compound of bismuth. It is produced as white flakes when alkali is added to a solution of a bismuth salt and is usually described as bismuth oxide hydrate or bismuth hydrate. Upon heating to 400°C, bismuth hydroxide decomposes to bismuth(III) oxide.

Last revised
Jul 5, 2026
Read time
≈ 1 min
Length
310 w
Citations
6
Source
Wikipedia ↗
Bismuth hydroxide
source ↗
Names
Other names
  • Bismuth oxide hydrate
  • Bismuth hydrate
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
ChemSpider
ECHA InfoCard 100.030.706
EC Number
  • 233-790-2
UNII
  • InChI=1S/Bi.3H2O/h;3*1H2/q+3;;;/p-3
    Key: TZSXPYWRDWEXHG-UHFFFAOYSA-K
  • [OH-].[OH-].[OH-].[Bi+3]
Properties
BiH3O3
Molar mass 260.001 g·mol−1
Appearance yellowish-white powder
Density 4.96 g/cm3
insoluble
Hazards
GHS labelling:
GHS07: Exclamation mark
Warning
H302, H315, H319, H335, H413
P261, P264, P270, P271, P273, P280, P301+P312, P302+P352, P304+P340, P305+P351+P338, P312, P321, P330, P332+P313, P337+P313, P362, P403+P233, P405, P501
Related compounds
Other cations
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).

Bismuth hydroxide (Bi(OH)
3) is a non-fully characterised chemical compound of bismuth. It is produced as white flakes when alkali is added to a solution of a bismuth salt and is usually described as bismuth oxide hydrate1 or bismuth hydrate.2 Upon heating to 400°C, bismuth hydroxide decomposes to bismuth(III) oxide.3

Uses

Bismuth hydrate is a component used in milk of bismuth4 which is used in gastrointestinal disorders as a protective agent.5 Aqueous ammonia reacts with bismuth(III) ions to precipitate white bismuth hydroxide.6

It is used as an absorbent, and in the hydrolysis of ribonucleic acid. It is also used in the isolation of plutonium from irradiated uranium.

References

References

  1. Holleman, Arnold Frederik; Wiberg, Egon (2001), Wiberg, Nils (ed.), Inorganic Chemistry, translated by Eagleson, Mary; Brewer, William, San Diego/Berlin: Academic Press/De Gruyter, p. 771, ISBN 0-12-352651-5
  2. "Bismuth Hydroxide | 10361-43-0".
  3. Patil, M. M.; Deshpande, V. V.; Dhage, S. R.; Ravi, V. (2005-08-01). "Synthesis of bismuth oxide nanoparticles at 100 °C". Materials Letters. 59 (19): 2523–2525. doi:10.1016/j.matlet.2005.03.037. ISSN 0167-577X.
  4. "USP Monographs: Milk of Bismuth".
  5. "Milk of Bismuth -- Medical Definition". Archived from the original on 2013-06-04. Retrieved 2013-09-17.
  6. "Bismuth".