Gallium is a silvery, brittle element that liquefies at high temperatures and was discovered in 1875. It is used in semiconductors, alloys, and medical treatments.
Gallium is a chemical element that is not a naturally occurring element, but is easily obtained when the metal is smelted. Characterized by a silvery hue, this element is generally classified as a poor metal due to the fact that it becomes quite brittle at lower temperatures. It has also demonstrated a tendency to liquefy or melt slightly at higher temperatures. As such, gallium is not considered suitable for many of the applications common with other metallic elements.
This element was first identified by Lecoq de Boisbaudran in 1875 while he was working with a sample of zinc mixture which had been obtained from the Pyrenees. While using a spectroscope to examine the sample, de Boisbaudran noticed the presence of two purplish lines with the spectrum. The qualities of this new discovery were in line with predictions for new elements that had been documented in Mendeleev’s periodic theory several years earlier. Further experimentation allowed de Boisbaudran to obtain gallium through a process involving electrolysis. After his search was verified, the new element was given its name and given the atomic number 31.
When exposed to cold temperatures, gallium exhibits crystalline qualities similar to glass compounds, but without their strength. In fact, the element can shatter if the temperature drops enough. Despite this drawback, it has properties that make it an ideal semiconductor. Diodes benefit from its presence, while transistors can be produced more efficiently and cheaply with the use of the element. As a replacement for crystalline silicon in the production of solar panels, gallium promises to make the production of this important form of alternative energy more affordable.
Among various chemical elements, gallium works very well with aluminum in creating useful alloys. For example, combining it with aluminum will effectively sever the bond between oxygen and hydrogen in water. Experimentation with a mixture of the liquefied element and tin suggests that the resulting alloy could be useful for keeping computer chips at acceptable temperatures. Today, a combination of indium and tin is often used in medical thermometers. Gallium nitrate, a common variant, is used to make oral medications and topical creams that help with arthritis. There is also research aimed at using this element as part of emerging dental technology.
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