Gallium - Melts at just 29.77°C

Gallium (Ga) is a soft metal that melts at just 29.77°C. It is considered to be non-toxic to humans.

Application for gallium:

Gallium is used primarily in integrated circuits, laser diodes, and LEDs. It is also used as an element in low-melting alloys such as Gallistan. One of the more recent applications is as an alloying element in flexible CIGS (copper, indium, gallium, and selenium) thin film photovoltaic cells.

Details:

Gallium has a strong tendency to supercool below its freezing point; it may therefore be necessary to seed with a gallium crystal to initiate the solidification. Liquid gallium attacks most other metals by diffusing into their metal lattice, making them very brittle. It expands by ~3% when it solidifies and should therefore be stored in flexible containers.

Idea:

In metalworking, use it as a core material that can be melted and poured into or out of cavities.

Try it:

Melt it between your fingers – note that it can leave stains.

The sample:

You get 1-2 grams in a small clear container. 

All samples come with a laminated information card, which includes contact details for the supplier