Russian chemist Dmitry Ivanovich Mendeleyev in 1870s predicted the existence of the element Gallium and its properties. He predicted that it would be similar in properties to Aluminum and have an atomic number of 31. Paul-Emile Lecoq de Boisbaudran was a French chemist who isolated gallium from a zinc mixture. Gallium, a soft and reactive metal, clings to porcelain and glass. It is rare to find in nature and makes up only 0.0019% of the Earth's crust. Gallium is used in electronics, nuclear weapons and pharmaceuticals. It is most often used in semiconductors.
Gallium is a light and soft metal. It is quite reactive and reacts at very high temperatures to many non-metals. It is also very soft and easy to brittle. Gallium can dissolve in acidic solutions like sodium hydroxide. Gallium has a low melting and boiling point. Gallium's boiling point is more than eight times higher than its melting point.
Gallium is found in the Earth’s crust in ores containing zinc and aluminum. The majority of light emitting diodes use this element as a semiconductor dopant. It can also be used to stabilize nuclear bombs' crystal structures. Gallium is non-toxic in its original state. However, certain compounds can cause serious health problems. It has been reported that gallium compounds can cause skin rash and decrease production of blood cells. You should avoid inhaling it. However, if you do, make sure to wear gloves.
Gallium is also a traces element. This means it is very rare. It is found in the metal ores of iron pyrites, germanite and copper sulfide, and is also found in trace amounts in the ores of bauxite and chromium. It is often found in the +3-oxidation state. It has an electronegativity value of 1.81. Its density is 5.9037g per cubic centimeter. Gallium is used in light-emitting diodes, which convert electricity directly into light. These diodes are extremely efficient and are used in luxury car headlights. They are also used by the Neutrino Observatory in Italy.
While gallium can be quite reactive, it does not emit toxic vapour. It has an eight-atom unit cell structure in the solid state. You can have multiple metastable phases of this element. The solid phase expands at 3.1 percent after it has been solidified. The liquid phase is 4.5 grams in cubic centimeters dense, while the liquified one is 5.9037g per cubic centimeter.
Gallium is a chemical elements that naturally occurs in the Earth’s crust as a trace. It can be found in two isotopes that are naturally found, Gallium-7 and Gallium-71. It is used in semiconductors and light-emitting diodes. Apart from its use in electronics and pharmaceuticals as well, gallium can also be used in nuclear weapons and in the manufacture of alloys. It has the lowest possible vapour pressure and is used to stabilize nuclear bomb crystal structures. It is also used to make mirrors.