How to extract elemental bismuth from pepto bismol? I was trying to isolate elemental bismuth from pepto bismol (bismuth subsalicylate) using the process seen here but after I added hydrochloric acid, instead of getting a pink foamy substance, I got a white liquid with some white foam. The only reason I can think of, for why this would happen, is that the pepto bismol was expired by a month. 

After I realized the reaction didn't work, I added a homemade universal indicator (red cabbage - phenolphthalein - preserved with a little isopropyl alcohol) and started adding sodium hydroxide to neutralise any remaining acid. When I started adding the sodium hydroxide, the solution started heating up and then changed color fairly rapidly from pink to a dull grey green which didn't change when I tried adding more acid.

Shortly after the color change, something started to precipitate out. I filtered off the precipitate and got a clear orange liquid. I then added a little hydrochloric acid to the orange liquid and something immediately started precipitating out. The remaining liquid then turned clear and smells slightly like mint.

My only guess for what I have made is bismuth hydroxide (the first precipitate) but I have no idea what the second precipitate is. Here are pictures of the final precipitates.
I'm not sure you did do the experiment wrong. I performed this experiment and it closely matched this video which had a light yellow liquid and foam.

Here are my results



I filtered it a couple more times to remove more foam. Then added the aluminum foil.



This is what I got at the end before I filtered the liquid out at the end.

In the end I was able to extract 6.2 grams of bismuth powder from 67 tablets of pepto (a bit less than the theoretical ~10 grams I was hoping to get).