Indium is a rare metallic element found in zinc and silver ores. It is used in LCD manufacturing, plating, transistors, and medical imaging. It is not toxic in purified form, but some compounds can be harmful. It was discovered in 1863 and is often a byproduct of mining other metals.
Indium is a metallic chemical element classified among the poor metals, in group 13 of the periodic table. The element has a number of uses, particularly in the field of LCD manufacturing, which consumes most of that on the market each year. Most consumers interact with it only indirectly, as a component of larger items, and the item tends to be expensive due to its relative rarity.
In nature, indium is often associated with zinc and silver ores. When isolated it is silvery white and extremely soft, with a very high malleability. It is not considered toxic in purified form, although some compounds can be harmful. Many of these are considered carcinogenic and will cause serious organ damage at the very least. Indium is listed in the periodic table of elements under its symbol In and atomic number 49.
Ferdinand Reich and Hieronymus Theodor Richter are credited with the discovery of indium in 1863. The element appears to have been found while the two isolated substances found in zinc ores, and was named for the distinctive rich indigo-colored line in its atomic spectrum . Several years after the discovery, Richter succeeded in isolating the element for the first time. Curiously, Reich was actually colorblind, which is why he worked with Richter, since his partner could make observations that relied on color perception.
Many industries use indium in the plating of materials such as bearings and other moving parts. It is also used for silver plating and in the construction of transistors, especially in the form of solder. The semiconductor industry also uses the element and some of its compounds, and it also appears in some medical images. Indium wire can also be used to make gaskets in an assortment of applications. The element resists corrosion very well and many of its uses take advantage of this property.
Because indium is associated with other metal ores, it is usually seen as a byproduct of the mining industry. In other words, mining companies don’t specifically look for this element, they mine other precious metal ores and look at this element as a lucrative bonus. Much of the world’s supply is produced in mining plants in Canada; until 1924, it was actually extremely difficult to find in its pure form. As more e-waste is recycled rather than thrown away, it has led to less pressure on the world market for indium, as the usable material can be recovered.
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