Database/Absorbent/Bismuth Subnitrate
Mostly natural · ISO 16128

Is Bismuth Subnitrate natural?

Mostly. Bismuth, oxide and hydroxide trace to mined bismuth ore; the nitrate groups trace to natural-gas-based nitric acid, treated like urea's ammonia.

INCI nameBismuth Subnitrate
CAS1304-85-4
FormulaBi5H9N4O22 · 1461.99 Da
FunctionAbsorbent · Opacifying
FeedstockMade by dissolving mined bismuth metal in nitric…

How we scored it

Bi5O(OH)9 core 1214.0 Da (mineral, natural) + (NO3)4 248.0 Da (natural-gas-derived nitrate, non-natural) = 1462.0 Da → 1214.0/1462.0 = 0.83.
What counts. ISO 16128-2 scores the atoms that remain in the final ingredient. Reagents, solvents, catalysts and protecting groups used during manufacture leave no mass behind and are not counted.

Where it comes from

Made by dissolving mined bismuth metal in nitric acid (itself made from natural-gas-derived ammonia) and precipitating the basic salt. No alternative commercial route is used for this inorganic pigment.

In plain English

A dense mineral-based powder made from bismuth metal treated with nitric acid, used to absorb oil and add opacity, for example in face powders.

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Structure

2D structure of Bismuth Subnitrate

pentabismuth;oxygen(2-);nonahydroxide;tetranitrate

PubChem CID 73415757 ↗

References

  1. 1ISO 16128-1:2016 and ISO 16128-2:2017 — Guidelines on technical definitions and criteria for natural and organic cosmetic ingredients and products. ISO, Geneva.
  2. 2Bismuth Subnitrate. PubChem CID 73415757. National Center for Biotechnology Information. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
  3. 3BISMUTH SUBNITRATE. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  4. 4BISMUTH SUBNITRATE. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=BISMUTH%20SUBNITRATE