How to Turn the Chemical Element Bismuth Into Beautiful, Complex Crystals on a Kitchen Stove

YouTube maker NightHawkInLight has posted a series of instructions through Instructables that demonstrate how to turn the chemical element bismuth into complex and beautiful crystals using a stove-top sauce pan. The element has an extremely low level of radioactivity, but is generally regarded as being non-toxic.

It is the most highly diamagnetic element known, and is slightly radioactive with a half-life of approximately 19,000,000,000,000,000,000 years. The low melting point of 520 degrees fahrenheit makes it a simple task to melt on a kitchen stove.

Bismuth

Bismuth

images via Instructables

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Brian Heater
Brian Heater