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Overview

Early chemists had difficulty separating similar elements from each other. Elements with similar properties can only be told apart with tests not available before the eighteenth century.

Chemists also believed that metals grew in the earth, in much the same way that plants grow. Unattractive metals, like lead, were thought to be young or immature metals. More attractive metals, like tin, were thought to be partially grown. The most mature metals were silver and gold. This made identification very difficult. Were chemists looking at "older lead" or a "younger tin?"

Bismuth is one of the elements often confused with other elements. Old manuscripts show that bismuth was often confused with lead, tin, antimony, or even silver.