24 days ago

Entertainment Education chemistry bismuth Pepto‑Bismol bismuth subsalicylate metal extraction acid reaction aluminum foil reaction cosmetics pigments plumbing alloys

#chemistry #science #shorts #curious
This demo shows how bismuth metal can be extracted from Pepto‑Bismol tablets. The active ingredient, bismuth subsalicylate, reacts with acid and aluminum foil to release metallic bismuth. The powder can be melted into shiny ingots. Bismuth is familiar from cosmetics (pearlescent pigments in makeup), low‑toxicity alloys used in plumbing and fire‑safety devices, and as the stomach‑soothing ingredient in Pepto‑Bismol itself.

Safety note: Strong acids and reactive metals should only be handled in a controlled laboratory with proper PPE and ventilation.

Attribution: Clip source: NileRed — original upload How to Extract Bismuth Metal from Pepto‑Bismol Tablets (2015) (Archive.org mirror of YouTube). Transformed under fair use: narration, music, trim (~30s), reframed visuals, educational subtitles.