Gallium metal, liquid

Video clips demonstrating the very low melting property of gallium metal, and it's beauty as a liquid metal under very dilute hydrochloric acid.

Gallium has a melting point of 29.76°C (85.58 °F), and so will melt on your hand, but it has a very high boiling point of 2204 °C (3999 °F). Under very dilute hydrochloric acid, molten gallium has a very similar appearance to mercury, as the acid dissolves the very thin oxide layer.

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Science & Technology

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[skwozz]

Nice video!

How do you get the gallium so convex?

Is that because the water, or did you put something in it?

[evansp12]

I've put very small amounts of dilute hydrochloric acid. This alters the surface tension of the liquid metal, probably due to removal of very thin oxide layer.

Thanks for your comment.

[LipeNoda]

realy nice!

[evansp12]

Thanks!

[DustinAndDillan]

you gotta watch with gallium in glass dude, it expands as it cools 9if you already know this i mean no offense, just offering some advice)

[evansp12]

It's okay. Thanks for your advice. I've heard that expansion of gallium as it cools can break closed glass vessels, something to be careful about!

[flyte44]

Try adding a tiny bit of gallium on top of an unopened aluminum soda can. The gallium will very quickly remove the protective aluminum oxide layer and corrode the exposed aluminum resulting in the explosive release of the soda.

[evansp12]

I bought gallium from eBay and smart-elements(dot)com.

[KMnO4dalla]

were did you buy this?:)