The gallium is a chemical element, of symbol Ga and Atomic number 31. Its Melting point (29,76 °C) enables him to melt in the hand. One finds it in the form of trace in the Minerai of Bauxite and in the ore of Zinc.

Discovered and naming

Predicted under the name of ekaaluminium by Mendeleïev, discovered in 1875, its name was given to him by its discoverer, the chemist French Paul-Emile Lecoq de Boisbaudran, because Latin “cock” in is written gallus . This name will cause a misunderstanding, because the German discoverer of the Germanium in 1886 thought that “gallium” came from Gallia , the Gaulle, from where the naming of the germanium based on Germania , the Germanie.

Notable characteristics

Pure gallium has a beautiful silver plated aspect and it breaks in solid form in the same way as the Verre. The volume of gallium increases by 3,1% when it is solidified and for this reason does not have to be stored in a container out of glass or metal. Gallium corrodes the majority of other metals while diffusing in the metal network. Gallium is one of four metals (with the Césium, the mercury and the Rubidium) to being liquid around the room temperature. It can for this reason being used in the thermometers at high temperature. It is also known to have weak a Steam pressure at high temperature.

The essence of gallium is used out of alloy with the Arsenic. Composite material III-V obtained, “AsGa” or Gallium arsenide , is a extremely important Semi-conducteur with gap direct in ultra high frequency and optoelectronics, because of great electronic mobility which characterizes it. It constitutes the privileged substrate of the active components Hyperfréquence S. Gallium is also used in Medical imagery, because it is fixed on the Leucocytes.

External bond

• smart-elements.com Gallium pictures and samples

Simple: Gallium

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