Bismuth(III) sulfate


Bismuth sulfate is an inorganic chemical compound of bismuth with the formula Bi23. It is a hygroscopic white solid that decomposes at 465 °C to bismuth(III) oxysulfate and is isotypic to antimony(III) sulfate.

Production

Bismuth sulfate is most commonly produced from the reaction of bismuth(III) nitrate and sulfuric acid:
Another polymorph of bismuth sulfate can be produced by the treatment of lithium bismuthate(III) with sulfuric acid.

Properties

Bismuth sulfate decomposes at 465 °C to Bi2O2. If continually heated, it decomposes to various bismuth oxysulfates and at 950 °C it decomposes to bismuth(III) oxide. Bismuth sulfate hydrolyzes in water.