How to Extract Bismuth Metal from Pepto-Bismol Tablets

In this video, I will demonstrate one method how to extract bismuth metal from Pepto-Bismol.

This is not my procedure. It is a scaled up version of the procedure posted by TheChemLife:

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[Aichybatoal]

If you're trying this experiment, here's an extra bit of advice: try not to use an excess of HCl. Bismuth actually WILL dissolve in HCl (if oxygen is present, which it will be), so even after you've reduced the bismuth and filtered it out, put more aluminum in the "waste" acid solution, and you might reclaim some bismuth you didn't even know you lost! This might be where you lost some product, Nile.

[veganviking]

Bismuth is by far one of the coolest metals.

[markyoung]

I started making bismuth crystals recently and was shocked at how much bismuth I was losing to dross/oxidation. Then I vaguely remembered Mr NileRed heating the oxidized bismuth powder to a much higher heat to reduce the bismuth. I recovered at least ¾ of the bismuth that was supposedly lost in the dross.

[TerminvsEst]

**buys a bunch of Pepto-Bismol**

**cops show up at his house moments later**

[MrFshnutz]

I’ve never done chemistry in my life, and yet I’m addicted to these videos.

[cacervantes]

instead of smelting the metal from below, you can carefully apply the torch inside the container. that would consume the oxygen in the container.

[volcom]

I'm a Machinist and also took Biological warfar in college. I have been watching your videos for awhile now and I think your great at explaining everything going on and the why's n why boys to it all. Super👌🏽

[Breezeyheart]

I found the video to be very informative as I wasn't previously aware that Pepto-Bistmol had the metal, Bismuth in it. I don't like that others were trolling you and calling you stupid. That's not fair as I feel that you were being safe and showing how to do this experiment using this method.

[alllove]

I always enjoy your videos because you speak clearly, demonstrate clearly, and basically demonstrate professionalism while occasionally giving me a good laugh. You remind me of a friend of mine who now lives in Japan. I don't think it's the fact that you appear to have Asian roots, but that your voice is almost doppelgänger. Anyways... Without daring claim I know how to do any of the experiments you have done better, or even AS good as you have done, I thought I'd let you know a little ghettofied filtration I stumbled upon one day when I was out of coffee filters and needed them for a proper separation.. I ended up cutting similar to the coffee filter in size a piece of cotton off a tee shirt and found it worked better folded into a plug, jammed into the bottom of my makeshift funnel (water bottle). Like I said, ghettofied. But VERY effective. Even food dyes can be separated from the desired substrate via this method. Not always necessary, but sometimes absolutely necessary. I found you can even run things thru it more than once, but usually not necessary. Also, it can be washed by hand, using regular soap, though using my homemade soap that had just a little too much lye to be used for anything other than extreme hand washing or for cleaning that filter. If this helps, awesome. If you have better, teach me your ways oh wise one 🤗

[NeemeVaino]

Cover the bismuth with fine charcoal powder before heating. Pour out into a dish of rosin - get lustrous, round granules. After cooling, wash rosin off with alcohol.

[RhodianColossus]

I was sipping on a shot glass of pepto bismol while watching this

[kevinbyrne]

Glad to see that you're still producing videos.
(BTW, wouldn't heating bismuth powder under a layer of powdered charcoal avoid the problem of oxidation of the bismuth?)

[thebestofall]

NileRed, can bismuth crystals be grown through electrolysis of bismuth chloride like you did with stannous chloride?

[NvrchFotia]

You could've just put the bismuth and the coffee filter in the crucible and heated them so the carbon would reduce the oxides.

[AFrogInTheStars]

This video is like when you’re writing your draft for an essay, and the most recent bismuth metal video is the final draft

[Nick-tmsw]

You could use vacuum filtration to speed up filtration through the finer filter papers.

[ShlisaShell]

Easy to understand. Crystal clear commentary. Nice video!

[onyoucho]

Hey! This video was awesome! Thanks for posting it. So... will you please explain a little bit more about the creation of the white and blue flames when bismuth meets the air at high temperature(or am I even right about this)?

[maxkopec]

Great video!! Greetings from Poland :D

[Stony_meteor]

Can you use the liquid pepto bismol for this? I have some old that i dont want to use and it would be a waste to throw it away