Question 1

I ordered some and it wont oxidize. I believe its unpure and i learned its best to mix in sulfur when melted to purify it. Is this correct?

Accepted Answer

Adding sulfur usually makes the crystals come out metal colored instead of colorful. If your melting the Bismuth in regular atmospheric conditions it's definitely oxidizing anywhere it contacts oxygen while in it's liquid state. Often confused as impurities even on the first melt of 99.99% pure Bismuth somehow, the brown'ie-sorta grey green layer on top is an 'oxide layer' its just the undesirable one with more oxiding than you want due to excessive heating or remelting already oxidized Bismuth. You avoid that by not exceeding 521°F and once it melts start slowly freezing it back right away the first time. After that grab a fork or something to scrape that layer off (after you stop heating it!!!) and it should be shiny silver underneath that quickly oxidises as desired and changes color based on the temp. & how deep you ran the fork. If you have the heat on still it will keep oxidizing to the undesirable stuff and you'll have to scrape it again. Alternatively you can leave that layer and pour the molten Bismuth into a different mold (preheated of course) right out from underneath it. Easier than scraping if your using stuff you've melted 50 times already. Getting Bismuth too hot for too long over oxidizes it, direct flame does too and youll wind up with the yellow/green powder (also Bismuth oxide) that's no good for crystal making...to reclaim that stuff you gotta keep going and get it really hot..like red hot and molten and let it cool all the way down.. do that a few times and knock off all the accumulated oxygen molocules and you can reuse it. Careful not to alloy it with the pan your heating it in and put a lid over the purple Bismuth oxide..it pops and flies everywhere as it cools.!!!

Question 2

Is this a single large piece or many smaller pieces?  What is the approximate weight of the largest piece?

Accepted Answer

Mine came in 2 large pieces and a small piece. Total weight is 1 kilogram. I'd guess that the largest piece I got was .4-.5kgThe chunks might break in transit. Bismuth is somewhat brittle and soft. There's also little flakes of it in the package. ...but you're probably gonna melt it anyway, yes? :)

Question 3

The description says that you are selling 2.2 lbs but also says that the shipping weight is 8.8 ounces... Which one is it?

Accepted Answer

You will receive 1 kilogram which is equal to 2.2 pounds. I'm not sure why the shipping weight says 8.8 ounces, sorry for the confusion

Question 4

I'm wanting to cast into molds. What volume would this fill?

Accepted Answer

I'd say less than 1 cup.

Kilogram Bismuth Metal 99.99% Pure

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