Gallium is a chemical element with the symbol Ga and atomic number 31. It is in group 13 of the periodic table, and thus has similarities to the other metals of the group, aluminium, indium, and thallium. Gallium does not occur as a free element in nature, but as gallium(III) compounds in trace amounts in zinc ores and in bauxite.
Gallium is a soft, silvery metal, and elemental gallium is a brittle solid at low temperatures. It has 20 isotopes, but only gallium-69 and gallium-71 are stable. A large portion of gallium production is from bauxite.
Gallium has applications in electronics as a semiconductor. Its main use is for general-purpose transistors. Gallium arsenide is the main component of many semiconductor devices such as integrated circuits, solar cells and radiation detectors.
Gallium is also used in lighting, where high-power LEDs and laser diodes are made from gallium arsenide, indium gallium arsenide and other gallium-containing semiconductor alloys. Many computer peripherals and PDAs including cellphones and the original Nintendo DS used gallium arsenide infrared light-emitting diodes (LEDs) in their communication ports.
Gallium is found in many ores such as coal, bauxite, zinc, and copper. It is also found in trace amounts in many minerals and rocks and also in volcanic gases and soil.
The metal gallium, of atomic weight 69.7, is very soft; it may be cut with a knife, and is semitransparent. It melts at just above room temperature, and has a low boiling point. It is insoluble in water and in all other common solvents, but is soluble in dilute acids and strong alkalies.
Gallium metal is not a common metal, being only about 0.2 mg/kg in the environment. Nonetheless, it’s quite useful, being an essential component found in electronics and certain types of lighting. It’s also used as a doping agent in semiconductors, freeing electrons to better conduct electricity.
Gallium compounds are used in various consumer products and industrial processes. One of the most interesting compounds of gallium is gallium indium tin oxide (GITO) thin film. This thin film is used in consumer devices such as LED TVs and outdoor LED displays, as well as in automotive displays, medical equipment, and aerospace applications. GITO is also used in organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) and flexible displays, allowing for thin, lightweight, and highly efficient products.
Gallium is also used in a range of products from paint to drug delivery capsules. In one example, a company has developed a coating made mainly from gallium, magnesium and aluminum for automotive and sportswear use. Compared to other coatings, the gallium-based product is far more resilient against scratches, dirt, and other damage.
In conclusion, gallium is a chemical element of atomic number 31, which is mainly found in ores such as coal and bauxite. It is used in semiconductors and electronics and gallium compounds are also used in a range of products from paint to drug delivery capsules. It is a soft, silvery metal and its main use is for general-purpose transistors.