Gallium is a chemical element with symbol Ga and atomic number 31. The Melting point is 29.7 °C.
Gallium Precautions & Tips Don't be fooled by the youtube videos:
Although considered non-toxic, according to the MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet), gallium is a skin irritant and glove protection is to be worn.
Gloves should be worn for another reason - when solid, it disperses into very fine particles that will ingrain themselves in your skin, discolouring it grey, and the stain is difficult to remove.
Handle in on a disposable surface - Even the slightest speck of gallium will cause a large grey smudge on a surface.
Gallium is very sticky, and as such, moving it the way you desire becomes a challenge. It slides more easily off plastic, but it'll even stick to that. When you try and pour gallium, the last dregs will solidify due to cooling, making full transfer a painstaking process requiring heat and inventive thinking.
You will not do well by 'scraping off' gallium as some of the youtube videos recommend. It will either stick to whatever you are scraping it off with, or it will turn into a fine grey powder which makes it more difficult to work with.
Unfortunately, gallium is not magnetic, so it cannot be picked up or transferred that way.
Don't let gallium touch other metals, unless of course, you plan to cause corrosion
Don't mold a key with gallium and use it in the keyhole - it has an excellent chance of snapping (it's brittle like glass) or, even worse, melting whilst in there.
