Gallium - a rare metal that melts in the hands (7 photos) Bashny.Net

Gallium - is a chemical element with atomic number 31. It belongs to the group of light metals and denoted by the symbol "Ga". Gallium in pure form not found in nature, but its connections to trace amounts contained in the bauxite and zinc ores. Gallium - soft ductile metal silver. At low temperatures it is solid but melts at a temperature not much above room (29, 8 ° C). In the video below you can see how a spoon of gallium melts in a cup of hot tea.



Since the discovery of the element in 1875, before the era of semiconductors, gallium mainly used to create the low-melting alloys.


Currently, the entire gallium used in microelectronics. Gallium arsenide GaAs - promising material for semiconductor electronics.


Gallium nitride is used in making semiconductor lasers and light-emitting diodes of blue and ultraviolet range.


Metallic gallium is also filled with quartz thermometers (instead of mercury) to measure high temperatures. This is due to the fact that gallium has a significantly higher boiling point as compared with mercury.


Gallium roads, in 2005 the global market ton gallium cost 1, $ 2 million, and due to the high cost and at the same time with a large demand for this metal is very important to establish his complete recovery in the aluminum production and processing of coals on liquid fuels.


Contact with skin causes gallium that ultrafine metal particles are dispersed therein. The clinical picture of acute poisoning: a short-term excitement, then lethargy, incoordination, weakness, areflexia, slow breathing, a violation of his rhythm. Against this background, there is a paraplegic, then - coma, death.


Because of the low melting point of gallium ingots recommended transported in packages of polyethylene.