Melting Gallium Metal (10 grams)
Non-Ferrous Metals and Custom Alloys
We are surrounded by metals. In fact, metals are only gaining importance (and COST) as we rely more and more on technology in our country. Gallium is a metal that you may not realize you use on a daily basis that is also an interesting metal for kids to see. Bob and I like to talk about the science behind things for the kiddos and the more I show Brooke different experiments the more she asks questions. I thought it was important to show her a metal that is in such high demand and use in our country and explain its background as well as experiment. Enter Roto Metal and their gallium available for purchase. Don’t know a lot about gallium? Well, I will give you the breakdown:
Gallium (pronounced GAL-ee-em): Ga Atomic Number 31 (we love our Periodic Table poster)
Gallium is a metal that is stable in air and water but dissolves in acid and is a silvery color in its pure form. Gallium is not found in nature; instead it is made through a process called smelting (melting a metal from its ore and oxidizing elements to ‘free’ the metal.) Gallium is actually a byproduct of the production of aluminum and zinc. The name is after Gallia (Latin for France) where this metal was discovered.
Gallium is not produced in the United States. Our country imports gallium from France, (high-purity material) Kazakhstan and Russia (low-purity material.) Some controversy surround gallium production and pollution since arsenic compounds are still used to make semi-conductors. How do you obtain gallium in our country? In the United States, companies like Roto Metals import and sell gallium to businesses and individuals. The market for gallium arsenide in the United States is in the billions each year. Anyone can purchase gallium for science experiments.
How Do We Use Gallium? Electronics. You already have gallium in your home; for example, just look at your TV remote or microwave.
Uses:
- Microwave circuits
- High-speed switching circuits
- Infrared circuits
- Semiconductor uses
- Blue and violet light-emitting diodes (LEDs)
- Diode lasers
Why Would My Child Be Interested in Gallium?
Gallium becomes a liquid at 85.57 F. What does that mean? It means that our body’s temperature is warm enough to MELT gallium. Say what? Yes, your child can hold this metal and watch it melt in their hands. Wow. The metal will ‘re-freeze’ after you take it out of your hand. It is a really cool experiment for children to learn about chemical elements. Besides melting in your hand, gallium will also destroy aluminum if you exposure it to the element such as on a lid of a soda can.
Roto Metals Quality Guarantee: Roto Metals guarantees 99.99% Pure Gallium Metal in 10 gram quantity.
Precaution: Metallic gallium is not considered toxic although there are studies that show extended exposure can cause dermatitis. The data is considered inconclusive and, as always, read more about gallium and decide if it is something you want to work with in your home. That said, I suggest to ALWAYS use gloves when handling for you and your child’s safety. If you think your child is not old enough to handle without ingesting, please do not purchase or experiment with this metal. This metal does melt from the heat generated from your hands, so be very careful with drips or you will have some serious cleanup when it becomes room temperature!
Melting Gallium Metal (10 grams)
List Price: $ 19.99
Momma's Bacon 