Gallium! You might have heard of Gallium on a casual day in your chemistry class while studying the periodic table. Back then, you might not have noticed or pondered upon its use in our everyday life or how valuable this metal could be.
Represented as Ga with an atomic number 31, Gallium is a metal that can melt in your palm at room temperature. Silver in color, Gallium is metal, too soft to be swiftly cut with a knife.
This blog post digs deep down to explain the uses of the supremely multi-purpose Gallium. After reading, if the unique idea of investing in this precious metal hits you, you can research the gallium price on our platform.
Thermometers
The importance of thermometers in our lives needs no introduction. Thermometers are a part of every medical facility and household. The diagnosis process starts with a thermometer that measures the human temperature and indicates the presence of an infection.
Gallium is used in thermometers. The use of this metal in thermometers is attributed to its non-toxicity.
High-Performance Computing
Gallium is brilliant! The excellent chemical properties allow the metal to form alloys and become extensively helpful. One such alloy is called Galinstan. It is known for its freezing point. The practical use of Galinstan can be seen in high-performance computers. Because of the unique freezing point, the alloy cools down the chips in such high-end computers.
Pharmaceuticals
The properties of Gallium are pleasantly surprising. You must praise nature to bless a small element with such significant credits. Gallium is widely used in the pharmaceutical industry to formulate a number of drugs. Gallium salts are used for these purposes. An active anti-cancer agent is an integral part of the anti-cancer regimen.
Dental Amalgams
You might have seen a friend chortling. What might have stunned you would not be the laugh but his cavities filled with some silver material. This is actually Gallium. Initially, mercury was used to fill the cavities, but gallium alloys replaced mercury, the latter being toxic to human beings.
Radiopharmaceuticals
Being radioactive in nature, gallium isotopes have also found use in radiopharmaceuticals. The nuclear medicinal field is an emerging field bringing a transformation to traditional medical practices. A combination of gallium citrate and gallium nitrate is used for a particular kind of medical nuclear imaging called a gallium scan. The isotope 67Ga is the potent isotope that does the job.
Anti-Bacterial and Anti-Parasitic
Gallium is an element with phenomenal anti-bacterial and anti-parasitic properties. Bacteria like pseudomonas can easily be tricked by Gallium. Resembling iron, pseudomonas take it up for iron, which stops the essential life processes leading to death.
A compound of Gallium called Amine-phenol quickly kills parasites resistant to chloroquine with the compound of Gallium called Amine-phenol Ga(III).
Use in GaAs
Gallium is a significant part of GaAs used in LEDs, photovoltaic cells, integrated circuits, aerospace, transistors, optic fibers, mobile phones, and much more.
Conclusion
Gallium owes a lot to the world for its brilliant service. Being anti-toxic and a low melting point element, it has found a variety of use in the industrial and medical fields. One of the potent anti-bacterial and anti-parasitic, the pharmaceutical industry relies greatly on this silver-white metal.
Gallium is an integral part of the anti-cancer protocol. It has gracefully replaced mercury in dental amalgams. Thanks to Gallium for its uncountable contributions!