Bismuth oxynitrate was once called magisterium bismuti or bismutum subnitricum, and was used as a white pigment, in beauty care, and as a gentle disinfectant for internal and external use.

Some compounds have been fully characterised with single crystal studies and found to contain the octahedral [Bi6Ox(OH)8−x](10−x)+ cation.

The Bi ions are essentially four coordinate and are at the apex of a flat square pyramid.

An ab initio theoretical study of the hydration mechanism of Bi3+ and the structure concludes that the lone pairs on the Bi3+ ions are stereochemically active.

[17] The ultimate stage of thermal decomposition of oxynitrates is bismuth(III) oxide, Bi2O3.