Gallium
Gallium (镓, symbol Ga) is chemical element number 31, a Post-Transition Metal in period 4, group 13 of the periodic table, with a standard atomic weight of about 69.723. Soft metal that melts in your hand. Used in semiconductors and LEDs.
Properties
| Atomic number | 31 |
|---|---|
| Symbol | Ga |
| Atomic mass | 69.723 u |
| Category | Post-Transition Metal |
| Period | 4 |
| Group | 13 |
| Electron configuration | [Ar] 3d¹⁰ 4s² 4p¹ |
| Electronegativity | 1.81 |
| Covalent radius | 122 pm |
| Density | 5.907 g/cm³ |
| Melting point | 302.91 K |
| Boiling point | 2477 K |
| Discovery | Lecoq de Boisbaudran, 1875 |
Overview
Soft metal that melts in your hand. Used in semiconductors and LEDs. Gallium (Ga) holds position 31 in the periodic table, a Post-Transition Metal in period 4, group 13. As a post-transition metal it is fairly soft with a low melting point, turning up in alloys, solders and coatings.
With 3 electrons in its outermost shell, Gallium bonds accordingly; full configuration [Ar] 3d¹⁰ 4s² 4p¹, electronegativity 1.81. At room temperature it is normally a solid (a very low melting point); it melts near 302.91 K (29.8 °C), boils near 2477 K (2203.9 °C), has a density around 5.907 g/cm³.
Common applications range across Electronics / Semiconductors and Research. It was first described by Lecoq de Boisbaudran in 1875.
Electron shells
Electrons per shell: 2 · 8 · 18 · 3
Main uses
- Electronics / Semiconductors
- Research
Hazard
Compounds containing Gallium
No compounds in this knowledge base contain Gallium yet.
Data sources
Atomic mass uses IUPAC (CIAAW) standard atomic weights; the covalent radius is from Cordero et al. (2008). Verify on the RSC Periodic Table, PubChem and Wikipedia. Educational reference only.