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gallium [Ga]
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:
1) gallium-containing mineral are rare
2) up to 1% gallium found in ores diaspore, sphalerite, germanite, & bauxite
3) recovered as a by-product of burning coal
Characteristics:
1) blueish white-silvery metallic element
2) hard & brittle at low temperatures
3) extremely soft at room temperature; may be cut with a knife
4) melts just above room temperature
a) one of the few metals that can be liquid at room temperature
b) one of the widest liquid ranges of any metal
5) low vapor pressure even at high temperatures
6) expands on freezing
7) gallium salts generally of low toxicity
Uses:
1) gallium arsenide
a) capable of converting electricity directly into coherent light
b) component of light-emitting diodes (LED) & some integrating circuits
2) semiconductors & solid-state devices
3) microwaves
4) low-melting alloys
5) mirrors
6) high-temperature thermometers
7) radioactive gallium is used in medical imaging
Laboratory:
- gallium in erythrocytes
- gallium in blood
- gallium in serum/plasma
- gallium in urine
Related
gallium nitrate (Ganite)
periodic table
General
chemical element
metal
Properties
SIZE: AW = 69.72
atomic number
VALUE: 31
VALENCE: AR 3D10 4S2 4P1
Database Correlations
PUBCHEM correlations
References
- Webster's Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary, Miriam-
Webster Inc. Springfield, MA 1990
- Chemical & Engineering News, Sept 8, 2003