indium

American  

[in-dee-uhm] / ˈɪn di əm /

noun

Chemistry.

1. a rare metallic element, soft, white, malleable, and easily fusible, found combined in various ore minerals, especially sphalerite: so called from the two indigo-blue lines in its spectrum. In; 114.82; 49; 7.3 at 20°C.

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indium British  

/ ˈɪndɪəm /

noun

1. a rare soft silvery metallic element associated with zinc ores: used in alloys, electronics, and electroplating. Symbol: In; atomic no: 49; atomic wt: 114.82; valency: 1, 2, or 3; relative density: 7.31; melting pt: 156.63°C; boiling pt: 2073°C

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indium Scientific  

/ ĭn′dē-əm /

1. A soft, malleable, silvery-white metallic element that occurs mainly in ores of zinc and lead. It is used in the manufacture of semiconductors, in bearings for aircraft engines, and as a plating over silver in mirrors. Atomic number 49; atomic weight 114.82; melting point 156.61°C; boiling point 2,080°C; specific gravity 7.31; valence 1, 2, 3.

2. See Periodic Table

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Etymology

Origin of indium

1860–65; < New Latin, equivalent to ind ( icum ) indigo + -ium -ium

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

indium

But the transition is exposing a new bottleneck: demand for indium phosphide, a material used in laser components, is expected to outstrip supply from 2026, potentially slowing shipments of next-generation products.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 10, 2026

By February, Reuters reported indium in Rotterdam at $500 to $600 — the highest price since early 2015, driven partly by speculation on a Chinese futures exchange.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 7, 2026

That puts a dent in its 5,867% gain in the past 12 months, as investors bet on explosive demand for its indium phosphide substrates, used for optical—networking and photonic components within data centers.

From Barron's ● Apr. 21, 2026

To place individual indium atoms precisely on the surface of hafnium oxide, the ETH team developed several new synthesis methods in collaboration with other research groups.

From Science Daily ● Mar. 20, 2026

Of other metals first detected by the spectroscope mention is to be made of indium, determined by F. Reich and H.T.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 6, Slice 1 "Châtelet" to "Chicago" by Various

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