Gallium is a metal that melts in the hand. The substance has a melting point, which is 29.76 ° C. If you place it in a warm palm, it gradually begins to transition from a solid state to a liquid form.
A brief excursion into history
What is the name of the metal that melts in the hand? As noted above, such material is known by the definition of gallium. Its theoretical existence was predicted back in 1870 by a Russian scientist, the author of the table of chemical elements - Dmitry Mendeleev. The basis for the emergence of such an assumption was his study of the properties of numerous metals. At that time, no theorist could have imagined that the metal that melts in the hands exists in reality.
The possibility of synthesizing extremely fusible material, the appearance of which Mendeleev predicted, was proved by the French scientist Emile Lecock de Bois Baudodran. In 1875, he managed to isolate gallium from zinc ore. During experiments with the material, the scientist received a metal that melts in his hands.
It is known that Emil Bouabodran experienced significant difficulties in isolating a new element from zinc ore. In the first experiments, he managed to get only 0.1 grams of gallium. However, even this was enough to confirm the amazing property of the material.
Where gallium is found in nature
Gallium refers to elements that are not found in the form of ore deposits. The material is very dispersed in the earth's crust. In nature, it is found in extremely rare minerals such as gallite and zengeite. In laboratory experiments, a small amount of gallium can be isolated from ores of zinc, aluminum, germanium, and iron. Sometimes it is found in bauxite, coal deposits, and other mineral deposits.
How to get gallium
Currently, scientists most often synthesize metal, which is melted in the hands, from aluminum solutions that are mined during the processing of alumina. As a result of the removal of the bulk of aluminum and the procedure of repeated concentration of metals, an alkaline solution is obtained in which there is a small proportion of gallium. Such material is isolated from solution by electrolysis.
Fields of application
Gallium to this day has not found application in industry. The reason for this is the widespread use of aluminum, which has similar solid properties. Despite this, gallium looks like a promising material, because it has excellent semiconductor qualities. Such a metal can potentially be used for the production of transistor elements, high-temperature rectifiers, solar panels. Gallium looks like an excellent solution for the manufacture of coatings of optical mirrors, which will have the highest reflectivity.
The main obstacle to the use of gallium on an industrial scale remains the high cost of its synthesis from ores and minerals. The price per ton of such metal in the world market is more than 1.2 million dollars.
To date, gallium has found effective use only in the field of medicine. Metal in liquid form is used to slow the loss of bone mass in people who suffer from cancer. It is used to quickly stop bleeding in the presence of extremely deep wounds on the body of the victims. In the latter case, blockage of blood vessels by gallium does not lead to the formation of blood clots.
Interesting experiments with gallium
As noted above, gallium is a metal that melts in the hands. Since the temperature that is required for the transition of the material to a liquid state is slightly more than 29 ° C, it is enough to hold it in the palms of your hands. After a while, the initially solid material will begin to melt literally before our eyes.
Quite a fascinating experiment can be carried out with the hardening of gallium. The presented metal tends to expand during solidification. For an interesting experiment, it is enough to place liquid gallium in a glass vial. Next, you need to start cooling the tank. After some time, you can notice how metal crystals begin to form in the bubble. They will have a bluish color, in contrast to the silver shade that is characteristic of a material in a liquid state. If cooling is not stopped, crystallizing gallium will eventually burst the glass vial.
Finally
So we found out what metal is melting in the hand. Today gallium can be found on sale to conduct their own experiments. However, material should be handled with extreme caution. Solid gallium is a non-toxic substance. However, prolonged contact with the material in liquid form can lead to the most unforeseen health consequences, including respiratory arrest, paralysis of the extremities and a person entering a coma.