Melting Gallium Metal

Product Description

Experience the mind-blowing power of science with gallium in your hands. This unique metal transforms from a solid to a liquid while in your hands because ... [Read more]

Top Reviews

Possibly the most fun element ever.
by Dave Jerrard (5 out of 5 stars)
July 1, 2016

Gallium is an interesting metal because it melts at body temperature, looking a lot like mercury when it's a liquid, but safe to touch.

This comes in a small plastic vial with an attached cap. If it's cold enough, the gallium inside will be solid, making it virtually impossible to remove. Just run hot water over the vial and it will melt and you can then just pour it out. Take care though, because this can separate into tiny drops that can easily get away, and, being a metal, it won't exactly soak into a paper towel or sponge. I found the easiest way to return it to the vial is to scoop it up with a piece of paper or plastic sheet. If it's on a smooth surface, you can use ice to harden it and make it easier to pick up.

Warning. This is a soft metal, and will melt easily, and as such,it will readily mark surfaces if it rubbed across. If you're handling it with your hands, your hands will get dirty. It's best to keep it over a protective surface like a plastic sheet to prevent this from marking up a table to counter-top. And whatever you do, avoid dropping it on cloth or on a carpet! It will be practically impossible to get it out.

This stuff works great in ice cube molds.
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Great Gallium Great Customer Service
by Bradley (5 out of 5 stars)
January 29, 2016

I am interested in chemistry (I am 15) and I had some extra money. So I thought I'd buy an interesting element and I stumbled across gallium. I bought 40 grams from them melted it down into an ingot with some warm water. And I thought I'd weigh it when i did my scale said it was only 10 grams I contacted the company through amazon to tell them and then forgot about it. 2 weeks later i received the 30 grams of gallium that I didnt receive. The customer service was amazing, But there are some things I have discovered. First this DO NOT let this be messed around with by anyone below 11 years old. It is very messy/sticky. And if spilled it is very hard to clean up (I spilled it within the first 5 mins of melting it. Second (optional) wear latex gloves when you liquefy it just to make sure not to get any on your skin though it is non toxic it is not the best thing to be in your body. Third DO NOT and I mean DO NOT store in a glass container when the gallium hardens it expands if stored in glass it will crack the glass which can cause injury. Also when melting it I put a glass of water in the microwave for 1 min 30 secs and put the container with the gallium in it for about 10 mins (make sure to hold the top closed or the steam from inside will pop the top open) and dump it into a container that you want it to be stored/made into the shape of. Then stick in the freezer for around 30-45 mins. At first i used cheap plastic party cups so that when it hardens you can cut the cup and remove the hardened gallium. (Also you will have to wait a LONG time for it to melt in your hand). Also the picture is the ingot I made of my 40 grams of gallium.
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Wonderful for science demonstrations or rainy days
by kingmidasnreverse (5 out of 5 stars)
March 29, 2017

As others have pointed out, writing a product review for an element seems a bit silly. But if your criteria include wow-factor, safety, and value, then gallium gets five stars. Other elements, like zinc, just sit there. And don't get me started on cobalt. Take a chunk of strontium or nickel out at your next party and see how many oohs and aahs you get. The problem is, generally the more exciting elements are to look at, the deadlier they are. Radium paint's a real kick until the osteonecrosis sets in. Mercury? Great fun, but touch it and smell it and welcome to the amazing world of heavy-metal poisoning (and not the fun, Dokken/Judas Priest/Scorpions kind, either).

Then along comes gallium. All the spectacle of mercury without that pesky brain damage. If you work with kids, drop a vial of this stuff in hot water to melt it, then carefully open and pour into a small, shallow bowl for them to touch. Guarantee they'll be amazed. There's no other sensation quite like it.

Now getting it back into the vial is a bit of a trick. Very unlikely you'll get all of it. And be warned: gallium stains, leaving charcoal-colored blotches on whatever it touches. And these blotches seem to spontaneously generate and magically get on everything within about a mile radius. But for about ten bucks-far less than the cost of a ticket to the next Hangover sequel-this stuff can't be beat.
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Calling All Nerds!
by Knazur (5 out of 5 stars)
April 2, 2016

This is for you if you are interested in chemistry, interested in learning, or want to prank some friends.

It takes a few minutes to heat up in your hand.

But when it does it will be liquid gallium as described.

It leaves a slight grayish residue on your hand so just wash them after handling.

The metal will return to its solid state after cooling down so store in an appropriate container.

Be careful on moving the liquid in your hand because it will easily fall out and you will lose your gallium!
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Is it solid or liquid?
by Scot W. (4 out of 5 stars)
March 24, 2016

My 13 year old daughter was studying the periodic chart of the elements in science and I thought this was the perfect way to keep her interested in it. The item arrived pretty quick and packed well. The gallium comes in a small, plastic tube and that was the only reason I took away one star. There's no way to get the stuff out without heating it first. I was hoping to show her the gallium in a solid state in her hand before we "melted" it. You can either put it in a shallow cup of very warm water or use a hair dryer on low. We tried rubbing the tube in between our hands like we were trying to start a fire with a stick but that wasn't getting us anywhere. Once we poured it out...my daughter was very excited. It does leave a grey residue on your hands from oxidation but it came right off with soap and water. In it's liquid state, it was pretty easy to get back into the tube. I may look for a better container so that it's easier to get out in the future. All in all, a great way to introduce young students to different types of elements and their properties.
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So freaking cool. I loved learning about this and feeling the ...
by Owlissa (5 out of 5 stars)
November 12, 2017

So freaking cool. I loved learning about this and feeling the heaviness of the liquid-metal. Teaching my friends, boss and daughter about this was great, too. I speak for everyone when I say we all loved and STILL love from time to time. (I got this item like 4-6 months ago or so) and my daughter and I will still grab it off the bookshelf every now and again and play with it. IT DOES leave TONS of black chalky thick ash-like residue but we keep baby-wipes or make-up wipes by us when we play with this and it comes off of hands and mostly all surfaces with zero issues.
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Gallium is Cool! Really cool!
by Abbas H. Mirza (5 out of 5 stars)
April 21, 2015

Just as we had expected! The metal came well packed! It melted when warm water was poured on the vial. It also melted slowly in th ehand and my son was ABSOLUTELY DELIGHTED to have a METAL melting in his hand. He is now all excited about learning the melting points, atomic weights and atomic numbers and other properties of several other metals now. Thank you GALLIUM!
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but it's nothing like mercury as far as poisoning goes
by kristen (5 out of 5 stars)
October 16, 2015

It's messy!

Your hands will become grayish, but it comes off with soap. There is inconclusive evidence as to it's long term toxicity, but it's nothing like mercury as far as poisoning goes, although it looks EXACTLY like mercury when it melts. Coolest feeling ever, so much fun, everyone was amazed. It doesn't stick to plastic so I recommend having some down to play with. Takes a minute to cool back down, and takes awhile to heat up. Had to hold it for like 5-10 minutes to get any good sized drops in my hand. SO MUCH FUN!
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Great company to do business with.
by Aaron (5 out of 5 stars)
March 14, 2014

I have to say that I am impressed is this company. The post office damaged the package that I order from them and the encasing the product was in was mangled up so I was not sure how much of the Gallium leaked out. I ordered it for my son who was coming home in two weeks, and the order indicated it takes time to process and ship. It had arrived earlier than I anticipated but as I said, it was damaged. I informed the company and let them know I was hoping to get it before my son got home. They responded so fast and I received a replacement order within the week. This is a great company to do business with. I know since I have been dealing with another order from a different company that has not been resolved yet. These folks were quick in their response and I am pleased with them.
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Exactly as discribed.
by ShadowEssenceCrafts (5 out of 5 stars)
August 6, 2018

Wonderful experience with this shop.

Perfect description of the product and good quality.

It does leave a slight residue on the skin but I expected that.(Not a complaint , an observation amd description)

I rate this a 5 star.

The only thing that had gone wrong .

My first order was for 2 and one got lost. I contacted the seller right away.

And that day a replacement was sent! Wonderful experience.

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