Name       : Gallium 
Symbol     : Ga
Atomic #   : 31
Atom weight: 69.72
Melting P. : 29.78
Boiling P. : 2403
Oxidation  : +3
Pronounced : GAL-i-em
From       : Latin Gallia, "France"
Identified : Predicted by Mendeleyev
Appearance : Soft, blue-white metal
Note       : Used in producing LEDs and GaAs laser diodes.
             
[Properties]

  Gallium is a soft metal. Like pure lead, gallium can be cut with a knife
at room temperature. When the metal is chilled, however, it becomes hard
and brittle. Its melting point is just a bit above ordinary room 
temperature; unlike most other elements, gallium expands upon cooling.
  Gallium belongs to the Group-IIIA elements on the periodic table of
elements. The other elements in this group are boron (B), aluminum (Al),
indium (In), and thallium (Tl). In the chemical sense, gallium is most
like aluminum, but it shares a few chemical and physical characteristics
with indium and thallium.
  Gallium is best known today for its tendency to conduct electricity as a
semiconductor, but only when "doped" with one of the Group-VA compounds,
especially phosphorus (P), arsenic (As), and antimony (Sb).