Bismuth sulphate is an inorganic bismuth salt of sulphuric acid, generally represented as bismuth(III) sulfate. It appears as a white to off-white crystalline or amorphous powder and is sparingly soluble in water, where it tends to hydrolyze to basic bismuth sulphates. The compound is chemically stable under dry conditions but decomposes on strong heating to form bismuth oxide and sulphur oxides. Owing to its low solubility and chemical stability, bismuth sulphate is mainly used as an intermediate in inorganic synthesis, analytical chemistry, and materials research