Gallium
GAL-i-em
Gallium (Ga) is a silver metal that has the atomic number 31 in the periodic table. It is located in Group 13 of the periodic table. It has the symbol Ga.
Gallium is a relatively soft metal which at temperatures of greater than 29 °c begins to melt. Gallium was one of the first elements predicted by Dimitri Mendeleev who hypothesised it would have properties similar to Aluminium so he called it eka-aluminium. It was discovered by the French chemistry Paul Lecoq de Boisbaudran who used spectroscopy to discover the unknown metal in 1875. It was extracted from Zinc ores that contained small amounts of Gallium he isolated through electrolysis. Gallium’s location next to the non metals in the periodic table means some of its standard metallic properties are not so metallic, it is a brittle metal and also a poor conductor of electricity. Gallium is used in thermometers and also the produce lasers and diodes. It is located in Group 13 and it has a melting point of 29°c and a boiling point of 2400°c being a solid metal at room temperature.
FAQ's
Paul Émile Lecoq de Boisbaudran
1875
Uses
Used in semiconductor production. It us used in making LEDs (light-emitting diodes) and GaAs laser diodes.
Sources
Found throughout the crust in minerals like bauxite, germanite and coal.
About the author
Nathan M
Nathan has a degree in BSc Biomedical Chemistry at Warwick University and a degree in PGCE Science at Wolverhampton University, UK. Nathan's subject matter ranges from general chemistry and organic chemistry. Nathan also created the curriculum on Breaking Atom in the course page.
Citation
Ga
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