alchymista:

Day 31: Interesting Facts About Gallium
Atomic Symbol: Ga; Atomic Number: 31; Atomic Mass: 69.723

1. Though gallium is a solid at room temperature, its melting point is at 85.57˚F or 29.76˚C, so it will melt in your hand or in the the summer heat. It also has one of the longest liquid ranges of any metal, with a boiling point of 3999˚F or 2204˚C.
2. Once liquified, the element tends to supercool, remaining a liquid below its freezing point. Adding solid gallium seed particles may be necessary to solidify the liquid metal. Also, be careful not to store your gallium in glass or metal containers, as gallium expands by 3.1 % during solidification, possibly breaking these containers.
3. Gallium can prove extremely useful in high-temperature thermometers, creating low-melting alloys, doping material for semiconductors, radiogallium salts, transistors, mirrors, LEDs, lasers, and in the study of neutrinos.
4. A classic prank many scientists have been known to use involves creating spoons of gallium and serving them with tea for unsuspecting guests. Imagine the surprise when the spoon melts in their hands and hot tea!
5. Also: watch the gallium beating heart reaction here, in which Gallium is placed into 6M solution of H2SO4. Upon being prodded with a nail, the surface tension decreases, creating a “heartbeat.”

Image: Gallium melts on the hand.

Source: alchymista

12 February 603 crookedindifference Permalink