gallium [Ga]

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Introduction

From the Latin gallia, an old name for France. Discovered spectroscopically & isolated by electrolysis in 1875 by French chemist Paul-Emile Lcoq de Boisbaudran.

Occurrence

  • gallium-containing mineral are rare
  • up to 1% gallium found in ores diaspore, sphalerite, germanite, & bauxite
  • recovered as a by-product of burning coal

Characteristics

  • blueish white-silvery metallic element
  • hard & brittle at low temperatures
  • extremely soft at room temperature; may be cut with a knife
  • melts just above room temperature
    • one of the few metals that can be liquid at room temperature
    • one of the widest liquid ranges of any metal
  • low vapor pressure even at high temperatures
  • expands on freezing
  • gallium salts generally of low toxicity

Uses

Laboratory

More general terms

Additional terms

References

  1. Webster's Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary, Miriam- Webster Inc. Springfield, MA 1990
  2. Chemical & Engineering News, Sept 8, 2003

Database