Gallium is a chemical element with symbol Ga and atomic number 31. Elemental gallium does not occur in free form in nature, but as the gallium(III) compounds that are in trace amounts in zinc ores and in bauxite. Gallium is a soft, silvery metal, and elemental gallium is a brittle solid at low temperatures, and melts at 29.76 °C (85.57 °F) (slightly above room temperature).
Three reasons Gallium stands out
- 1
A metal that can melt in your hands.
- 2
It is used in the LEDs that backlight virtually every modern smartphone screen.
- 3
It can be supercooled and will remain liquid well below its freezing point without solidifying.
A metal that melts in your hand
Gallium can liquefy just above room temperature, yet it does not boil until extraordinarily hot. It expands as it freezes and can weaken aluminum by penetrating its structure. Gallium compounds are more technologically important than the pure metal, powering LEDs, lasers, and high-frequency electronics.