Apr 9 2013
A truly peculiar metal with an ultra
low melting point of just 29.76 °C (85.57 °F) and the ability to attack most
other metals by diffusing into their metal lattice (greatly weakening their
structure).
In 1871, existence of gallium was
first predicted by Russian chemist Dmitri Mendeleev,
who named it "eka-aluminium" on the basis of its position in his
periodic table. He also predicted several properties of the element, which
correspond closely to real gallium properties, such as density, melting point,
oxide character and bonding in chloride. Gallium was discovered
spectroscopically by French chemist Paul Emile Lecoq de Boisbaudran in 1875 by its
characteristic spectrum (two violet lines) in an examination of a sphalerite
sample.
Elemental gallium is not
found in nature, but it is easily obtained by smelting. Very pure
gallium metal has a brilliant silvery color and its solid metal fractures
conchoidally like glass. Gallium easily alloys with many metals, and is used in
small quantities as a plutonium-gallium alloy in the plutonium cores of nuclear
bombs, to help stabilize the plutonium crystal structure.
Today, almost all gallium is used
for microelectronics (gadgets like your phone, TV's and even cars). Gallium
arsenide, the primary use of gallium, is used in microwave circuitry and
infrared applications.
Take a look at the following video
and see this metal in action as it destroys an Aluminum soda can. Unreal!
http://iliketowastemytime.com/2013/04/09/gallium-rare-metal-interesting-properties
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