Bismuth(III) acetate

Bismuth(III) acetate is the coordination complex with the formula Bi(O2CCH3)3. It is a molecular compound featuring Bi bound to six oxygen ligands in a distorted polyhedral sphere. According to X-ray crystallography, the acetate ligands are bound very unsymmetrically such that three Bi-O bonds are approximately 2.3 Å in length, and three others are near 2.6 Å. The stereochemically active lone pair of electrons occupies significant portion of the coordination sphere. The compound has been further characterized by solid-state NMR spectroscopy.

Bismuth(III) acetate will hydrolyze to form basic bismuth acetate precipitates. This reaction is useful to separate lead and bismuth.
 * Bi(CH3COO)3 + H2O -> BiOCH3COO + 2 CH3COOH