gallium

[ gal-ee-uhm ]

noun

, Chemistry.

1. a rare, steel-gray, trivalent metallic element used in high-temperature thermometers because of its high boiling point (1983°C) and low melting point (30°C). : Ga; : 69.72; : 31; : 5.91 at 20°C.

gallium

/ ˈɡælɪəm /

noun

1. a silvery metallic element that is liquid for a wide temperature range. It occurs in trace amounts in some ores and is used in high-temperature thermometers and low-melting alloys. Gallium arsenide is a semiconductor. Symbol: Ga; atomic no: 31; atomic wt: 69.723; valency: 2 or 3; relative density: 5.904; melting pt: 29.77°C; boiling pt: 2205°C

gallium

/ găl′ē-əm /

1. A rare, silvery metallic element that is found as a trace element in coal, in bauxite, and in several minerals. It is liquid near room temperature and expands when it solidifies. It is used in thermometers and semiconductors. Atomic number 31; atomic weight 69.72; melting point 29.78°C; boiling point 2,403°C; specific gravity 5.907; valence 2, 3.
2. See Periodic Table

Word History and Origins

Origin of gallium¹

1870–75; < New Latin, equivalent to Latin gall ( us ) cock (translation of French coq, from Lecoq de Boisbaudran, 19th-century French chemist) + New Latin -ium -ium

Word History and Origins

Origin of gallium¹

C19: from New Latin, from Latin gallus cock, translation of French coq in the name of its discoverer, Lecoq de Boisbaudran, 19th-century French chemist

Example Sentences

This showed that the gallium had broken the bonds between CO2’s carbon and oxygen atoms.

From Science News For Students

His group mixed gallium with a second liquid metal — indium — to create a mix known as an alloy.

From Science News For Students

Wang’s research stars a liquid metal alloy Galinstan—a mixture of the elements gallium, indium, and tin.

From Popular-Science

For a start, power electronics are generally built from gallium nitride semiconductors rather than silicon.

From Singularity Hub 

In 1875 Lecoq de Boisbandram discovered gallium, which filled one of the gaps; scandium and germanium filled the other two later.

From Project Gutenberg

The Pierrefitte blende contains one part of gallium in four hundred thousand.

From Project Gutenberg

A sulphate and a chloride of gallium have already been obtained.

From Project Gutenberg

The new element was named gallium in honour of France, the discoverers native country.

From Project Gutenberg

Gallium resembles lead in appearance, but is less blue in colour.

From Project Gutenberg