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Gallium is used in microchips.


Symbol Name Atomic Number Atomic Weight Group Number
Ga Gallium 31 69.723 13


Standard State: solid at 298 K
Color: Silvery White

Predicted and described by Mendelev as ekaaluminum and discovered spectroscopically by Lecoq be Boisbaudran in 1875. Gallium is often found as a trace element is diaspore and sphalerite.   Some flue dusts from burning coal have been shown to contain as much as 1.5% of Gallium.  There is a strong tendency for gallium to super cool below its freezing point.  Ultra pure Gallium has a beautiful, silvery appearance, and the solid metal exhibits a conchoidal fracture similar to glass.  The metal expands 3.1% on solidifying; therefore should not be stored in glass or metal containers. It is used widely in doping semiconductors and producing solid-state devices such as transistors.