gallium

American  

[gal-ee-uhm] / ˈgæl i əm /

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.

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gallium British  

/ 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

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gallium Scientific  

/ 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

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Etymology

Origin of gallium

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

Example Sentences

"There is a dramatic change in the lattice when you shine light on it, a unique phenomenon that you don't see with silicon or gallium arsenide," Leite said.

From Science Daily • Mar. 31, 2026

At the core of the device is a semiconductor diode made from aluminum gallium arsenide.

From Science Daily • Mar. 24, 2026

Small market minerals like gallium are good targets for government stockpiling because they are especially vulnerable to supply disruption.

From Barron's • Mar. 9, 2026

It said its concentrate included other lesser-known critical minerals such as germanium and gallium.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 12, 2026

The metal gallium shows this excellently well, keeping liquid for years until touched with the solid metal, when there is a considerable rise of temperature as solidification takes place.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 10, Slice 1 "Evangelical Church Conference" to "Fairbairn, Sir William" by Various