In this model the electron cloud of a multi-electron atom may be seen as being built up (in approximation) in an electron configuration that is a product of simpler hydrogen-like atomic orbitals. The ...

A research team led by Professor Sun Qing-Feng in collaboration with Professor He Lin's research group from Beijing Normal ...

"They touch when the electron orbitals of one atom overlap enough with the electron orbitals of the other atom that physical ...

So bismuth has partially filled orbitals and should behave as a paramagnet. However, its position in row six of the periodic table means bismuth also possesses some unusual heavy-atom properties.