Overview
Gallium is a soft, silvery metal that melts near 30°C and is important in electronic materials such as gallium arsenide.
Properties
It wets glass, has unusual low melting behavior for a metal and forms important semiconducting compounds with arsenic and nitrogen.
Occurrence and Uses
Recovered as a byproduct of bauxite and zinc processing, gallium is used in LEDs, high frequency electronics and solar cells.
Isotopes and Safety
Stable isotopes Ga 69 and Ga 71 exist; gallium compounds are handled with standard chemical precautions and have low acute toxicity.