Gallium, Research Paper Example

Gallium is a chemical element that does not appear in free form in nature, but is commonly found in bauxite, a primary source of aluminum, and zinc ores. In the modern setting, gallium has been used primarily for the creation of electronic devices. Because it can act as a salt in some chemical reactions, there are also medical implications for this element. Thus, there are clear social and economic benefits due to the use of gallium. Currently, there is no scientific knowledge regarding its influence on the environment, whether positive or negative. Gallium is not an element that is mined or produced. To obtain the element, it can be extracted from bauxite and zinc ores using smelting methods. However, it is challenging to obtain this element in large amounts.

Using gallium in the manufacturing process is somewhat challenging because storage is challenging. When the material solidifies, it expands, making it difficult to store it in glass and other materials that can easily break. Interestingly, gallium is highly reactive with other metals and will diffuse into their solid lattice on contact [1]. Furthermore, at certain temperatures, gallium can even melt when held in an individual’s hand. Thus, its use is very dependent on the temperature of its environment, melting when it’s hot, expanding and freezing when it’s cold. Due to its chemical nature, gallium was only first utilized in industry during the 1960s when it was used to help make a semiconductor. However, its use today is somewhat inconsistent and experimental, so the distribution of this element is not highly noted in the field of electronics. However, in the medical setting, scientists have learned that gallium could be used similarly to iron(III) and can therefore have useful applications in reducing inflammation [2]. Furthermore, it has the ability to prevent the respiration processes of certain bacteria. These applications are still being studied in the medical setting, but hospitals that have been given permission to study gallium in this manner have the ability to apply it directly to the patient if they believe that he or she would benefit from this form of intervention. While there are many practical applications of gallium being studied, not enough is currently know about the drug to allow it to be exchanged freely in the market. Since not many applications of gallium are known, there are not technically many replacements with the same properties that can be utilized. However, if manufacturers are simply looking for elements that have metallic properties, copper is one of the most cost effective materials that can be used, at approximately $2.05 per pound [3]. Silver, however, is the most conductive metal, but is relatively expensive to purchase at approximately $168 per pound. The price per pound for gallium hasn’t yet stabilized due to its infrequency and relative unavailability. Thus, its price will constantly change based on these factors. It is likely that even in laboratories that are experimenting to determine how this element can be used, it is available in only small amounts.

While many electronics manufacturers and medical professionals are concerned about the materials that they use in their practices because they are worried about potential environmental impact, the use of gallium has no known impact on the environment. It is plausible that this is because an impact does not exist or because the element is used in such small amounts that an impact has not yet been detected [4]. Therefore, it would be valuable to conduct more research on the matter to determine the possible extent of reach that this element could have on the environment, possibly influencing the human health. Overall, it would be beneficial for the time being to avoid disposing of gallium in a manner that could lead to potential environmental contamination. Laboratories that use this metal should therefore dispose of it in a manner that will prevent it from being able to easily enter waterways and impact fish and other life. Due to the knowledge that gallium acts as iron(III) however, if this information holds true, it is expected that it won’t be an environmental contaminant because life requires iron to a small extent for biological functioning. Thus, even though the environmental interactions of the compound are not known, it is ideal to be careful and take action to avoid contamination even without evidence for positive and negative interactions.

In conclusion, science does not currently know a significant amount of information about gallium, but its unique chemical properties contribute to the likelihood that it could be used effectively in technological and medical applications. Unfortunately, the element is challenging to acquire due to its rareness in nature, so pricing is also challenging to track as well. It is also not known whether there are any environmental impacts that result from the byproducts of this element, but it is beneficial to take precautions to prevent this from occurring. Overall, it would be beneficial to continue exploring the applications of gallium.

Citations

[1] Zhang Y; Evans JRG; Zhang S (2011). “Corrected Values for Boiling Points and Enthalpies of Vaporization of Elements in Handbooks”. J. Chem. Eng. Data 56 (2): 328–337

[2] Greenwood, Norman N.; Earnshaw, Alan (1997). Chemistry of the Elements (2nd ed.). Butterworth-Heinemann.

[3] Downs, Anthony John (1993). Chemistry of aluminium, gallium, indium, and thallium. Springer.

[4] Krausbauer, L.; Nitsche, R.; Wild, P. (1965). “Mercury gallium sulfide, HgGa2S4, a new phosphor”. Physica 31 (1): 113–121.