Monday, October 28, 2013

"Gallium" By: Dr. Dinnerbone


Why Gallium melts in your hand.

Gallium is a element with the symbol Ga and atomic number 31. Gallium does not form in nature, but as the gallium compounds that are in amounts of zinc and in bauxite. Gallium is a soft metal, and gallium is a solid at low temperatures.
 
 If it is held in the human hand long enough, gallium will melt, since it melts at the temperature of about 85.57 °F. The melting point of gallium is used as a temperature reference point. The alloy galinstan has the even lower melting point of −2 °F, well below the freezing point of water.
 
Beginning with its discovery in 1875 through the era of semiconductors, gallium was used as an agent to make alloys that melt at low temperatures. Then, gallium became useful in semiconductors.Today, nearly all gallium is used in electronics.

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