Bismuth
4 of the 7 encyclopedias on this shelf carry an entry for Bismuth. Both are reproduced below, so you can see where they agree and where they differ.
The Encyclopedia of Founding (1892)
A somewhat brittle metal, the color of which may be termed yellowish-white. It is a little harder than lead. Bismuth is found natural but impure in different parts of Europe, in the veins or fissures of other rocks; also in combination with sulphur, arsenic, and oxygen. The pure metal is obtained by heating the impure metal, or native bismuth, in inclined cast-iron tubes, where the metal is volatilized and, the vapors condensing, run into receiving-vessels, and finally into moulds, where it solidifies with a crystalline texture. At a high temperature, bismuth is slightly volatile and oxidizes rapidly. Its fusing-point is 507 deg., but it alloys with other metals to form fusible mixtures, which melt even below 212 deg. The specific gravity of this metal is 9.8. The fusibility of other metals is increased by bismuth, and its peculiar property of expanding while cooling makes it highly valuable as an ingredient in type-founders' alloys. A slight addition of mercury imparts greater fusibility to bismuth alloys. Alloys containing bismuth should always be cooled quickly, to prevent the separation of bismuth. Gold alloyed with bismuth forms a brassy composition of a brittle nature and the ductility of gold is impaired even by its fumes. It is seldom that bismuth is employed alone in the arts, but it forms an important ingredient in many mixtures for solder, type-metal, fusible alloys, etc. Bismuth is separated from lead by dissolving the mixed metal in nitric acid; add caustic potash in excess, and the oxides of bismuth and lead will be precipitated, but the lead oxide will be at once redissolved by the alkali. The oxide of bismuth can then be separated by filtration, washed, and ignited. See SOLDERS; TYPE-METAL; FUSIBLE ALLOYS; SEPARATING METALS; EXPANDING ALLOYS.
Aiton's Encyclopedia (1910)
a metallic element. Specific gravity 9.82. Bismuth melts at 510 deg. F. It is of a light reddish color. It resembles lead in some respects, but it is so brittle that it crumbles into a powder under the hammer. Bismuth is seldom used by itself in the arts, but its alloys are of commercial importance. Lead is hardened and toughened by the addition of bismuth. A soft solder, consisting of one part of bismuth, one of tin, and one of lead, is used by pewter workers. A second alloy containing five parts of bismuth, three of lead, and twenty of tin is used in stereotyping. This alloy melts at the boiling point of water. Metallic plugs of a similar alloy have been used in steam boilers, the idea being that they would melt when the heat rose beyond a certain point, and permit the escape of steam without bursting the boiler; but these plugs harden when in use and cannot be depended upon to melt at the critical moment. One compound of bismuth is used in medicine as an astringent. In large doses it acts as a poison, and, when applied to the face as a cosmetic, it is said to paralyze the nerves. Bismuth is the basis of so-called sympathetic inks. The Americana states that not over fifty tons of bismuth are used annually, and that the price ranges all the way from fifty cents to five dollars a pound. The metal is obtained from mines of Saxony, Austria, Norway, Cornwall, Spain, California, New South Wales , and certain mountainous districts of South America . 2026 Editor's Note: Bismuth held a title for two centuries that turned out to be false. Long called the heaviest stable element, it was shown in 2003 to be faintly radioactive — with a half-life around a billion times the present age of the universe, which makes it stable for every practical purpose. Non-toxic where its neighbor lead is not, bismuth now replaces lead in solder and shot, and coats the stomach in Pepto-Bismol. (Ed: BR 2026-06-28)
Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)
a triad metallic element, with the ores of nickel, cobalt, copper and silver, in Saxony, Austria, Peru, Australia and Bolivia. Bismuth is usually found in a metallic state, and is readily obtained from the ores containing it on account of its low fusibility (266° C.). Bismuth forms a dioxide Bi2O2, a trioxide Bi2O3, and a pentoxide Bi₂Os. The so-called tetroxide Bi₂O, is said to be a compound of the last two oxides. Bismuth forms one chloride BiCl3, bismuthous chloride. Bismuth is known by its reddish color and crystalline structure. On account of its brittleness it is unfit for use in the metallic state, by by itself, except in the construction of thermo-electric piles. The use of bismuth in alloys depends on its low melting point, and its property of expanding upon solidification. It is used in type metal and in several solders. Bismuth is used for pharmaceutical purposes in form of subnitrate of bismuth, carbonate of bismuth, and oxide of bismuth, which, taken internally, act as sedatives on the stomach, in dyspepsia and chronic vomiting. They have been also used in epilepsy and in diarrhœa attending phthisis. Preparations of bismuth are sometimes employed externally as cosmetics, but when a sulphuretted gas acts upon them they blacken the face.
American Watchmaker and Jeweler (1892)
Tin. Zinc. Lead. Copper. Antimony. Iron. Platinum. Nickel. Black