who discovered bismuth

The element bismuth is generally credited to Claude François Geoffroy, a French chemist who, in 1753, demonstrated that bismuth is a distinct element rather than a form of lead or tin. This work established Geoffroy as the official discoverer of bismuth in the scientific record of the time. Prior to his demonstration, minerals containing bismuth were often misidentified as lead, tin, or antimony ores, leading to confusion about the element’s true nature. Geoffroy’s findings were published in the Mémoires de l’Académie française in 1753, cementing his role in the discovery.