A new ternary bismuth complex [Bi(C 7 H 5 O 3 ) 3-C 12 H 8 N 2 ] (C 7 H 6 O 3 , o-hydroxybenzoic acid; C 12 H 8 N 2 , 1,10-phenanthroline monohydrate) and its crystal were prepared and characterized. The results showed that the crystal is triclinic, space group P ī with a = 10.184 (2) ) = 776. The crystal contains a mononuclear molecule. Bi 3? is eight-coordinated by three bidentate chelating carboxylic groups and one o-phenanthroline molecule; C 7 H 6 O 3 coordinated with Bi 3? in the form of carboxylate; the two nitrogen atoms of C 12 H 8 N 2 are bidentate-coordinated with Bi 3? forming a chelate ring. At 298.15 K, the standard molar enthalpy of formation of the title complex was estimated to be D f H m H [Bi(C 7 H 5 O 3 ) 3 C 12 H 8 N 2 (s), 298.15 K] = -(303.99 ± 4.95) kJ mol -1 .