Rainbow Bismuth Snake

Bismuth metal is naturally a white-silver metal with a reddish-pinkish hue. However, upon oxidation, bismuth crystals turn into a fascinating rainbow color. Further oxidation under heat can give bismuth a vividly iridescent appearance due to thin-film interference. Bismuth is both the most diamagnetic element and one of the least thermally conductive materials. It is solid at room temperature, however, it doesn’t take much to melt it. Once molten, after the bismuth cools back down, it organizes its molecules into really interesting shapes like the squares normally seen in shops. Some quantities are put together to allow “carvings” such as the snake offered here today.