"Bismuth is the 83rd element on the periodic table, with an atomic number of 83, and an atomic mass of 208.98, it is 86% as dense as lead, but it only has a hardness of 2. It is one of the first ten metals discovered, discovered in very ancient times. Bismuth is used for a variety of uses, including in cosmetics and the production of medicines such as pepto-bismol, and is often used as a substitute for lead, as it is not as toxic as lead. In 2003, bismuth was discovered to be very slightly radioactive, but it is so weak that it can be treated as though it weren't. Bismuth's most stable isotope, bismuth-209, has a half life which is billions of times longer than the universe's approximate age. The bismuth shown here is crystalline. Bismuth has a melting point of 271 degrees celsius. When it is heated up, melted and then cooled down, it molds itself into this shape. This form of bismuth has iridescent oxide that shows different colors such as yellow, pink and blue, and has a hopper/spiral staircase crystal structure, which is a very unusual shape. This bismuth can be used in jewelry and other cosmetics."