Why is this element important in everyday life?
In everyday life, Gallium, when mixed with tin and silver, is commonly used in dental fillings. Gallium is also used in semiconductors in transistors, but most importantly, it is used in memory devices in high-speed computers. When Gallium was first discovered, it was used in high temperature thermometers because it has the widest temperature range when compared with other elements.
Where is this element found in nature?
In nature, Gallium is found combined with rocks, ores, in minerals such as germanite, diaspore, sphalerite, bauxite, coal, and scarcely throughout the Earth's crust.
What are the properties of the element?
General Characteristics =
Gallium is a very soft, silver-white metal. It is one of only four metals on the periodic table that is a liquid around room temperature (the other three metals are Mercury, Cesium, and Rubidium).
Atomic Symbol = Ga
Period Number = 4
Group Number and Family Name = Group number 13, Boron Family
Atomic Number = 31
Atomic Mass = 69.72
Density = 5.907 g/c3 at 200C
Melting Point = 29.780C, or 85.600F, compared to Aluminum's melting point which is 6600C
Boiling Point = about 2,4030C
Electron Configuration = Ga- 1s22s22p63s23p64s2
3d104p1
Shorthand Notation =
Ga- [Ar]4s23d104p1
Common Reactions = Because of Gallium's extremely low melting point, it can melt in the palm of your hand.
Interesting Information = Gallium is one of three predicted elements on Mendeleev's periodic table. He predicted that the element's atomic mass of Gallium would be 68, and in fact, the atomic mass is 69.72.
Who is ?
"Hello there! My name is Gallium. I come from the Boron family. I was born in France in 1875. My father's name is Paul Emile Lecoq de Boisbaudran. He named me after the Latin word, "Gallia", meaning France. I sometimes get picked on by the other elements on the periodic table because of my ability to melt in the palm of your hand. But nevertheless, my three cousins, Mercury, Cesium, and Rubidium, stick up for me since they also can melt near room temperature."
"When I was very young, people used me in high temperature thermometers. This was because of my ability to remain in liquid form over a wider temperature range than any other element. Now that I am a little older, dentists use me in fillings, but only if I'm mixed with Tin and Silver first."
"Many of the other elements are jealous of my beautiful silver-white color. Many people sometimes confuse me with Aluminum because we look alike. But I am a much softer metal than Aluminum is."
"Well, I hope you got to know me a little better! Maybe I'll be seeing you around in Chemistry class sometime. Bye for now!"
