What is Bismuth oxychloride ?

Bismuth oxychloride is a compound of bismuth which is used in a lot of cosmetics, it was first known to have been used by the Egyptians in ancient Egypt over 3,000 years ago.

The structure of bismuth oxychloride presents in as a number layers that are which interfere with any waves of light that cross its path. This occurs because the elements of oxygen and chlorine sit in layers next to the Bismuth, which disrupt the waves of light and give it a pearly or incandescent appearance.

The chemical compound is referred to as BiOCl as its given chemical formula.   Its is very rare, which is why many cosmetics are expensive. The compound itself is a crystal, with Cl-, Bi3+ and O2-. The layout of the crystal of bismuth oxychloride is square antiprismatic coordination geometry