======Gallium and Aluminium Can======


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**Alternative titles:** Gallium Weakening Aluminum
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====Summary====                   
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====Procedure====  
  - Melt a small amount of gallium in a container using warm water.  
  - Using a brush or dropper, apply a thin layer of the liquid gallium to a chosen area on an aluminum soda can.  
  - Allow the treated area to sit for several hours while gallium infiltrates the aluminum.  
  - Observe the weakening of the can, which may become soft and brittle enough to puncture with little force.



====Links==== 
Amazing - What Gallium does to an Aluminium Can - DaveHax: 
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📄 Experimenting with Gallium: Gallium Vs. Aluminum Can - Gallium Sales: [[https://galliumsales.com.au/blogs/news/experimenting-with-gallium-gallium-vs-aluminum-can?srsltid=AfmBOopxYmKmgoSJ7tBmzuA7xmgl1gacIOJwfaHmuEhcmidyb-nQWOhx]]\\

====Variations====
  * Compare the effect of gallium on aluminum foil versus aluminum cans.
  * Try applying gallium to other metals.



====Safety Precautions====
  * Wear protective gloves when handling gallium.  
  * Avoid contact of gallium with jewelry or other metals to prevent damage.  
  * Do not ingest gallium or food/drink from treated cans.  
  * Dispose of weakened cans safely, as they may collapse unexpectedly.  





====Questions to Consider====
  * Why does gallium weaken aluminum? (Gallium atoms penetrate the aluminum’s grain boundaries, disrupting its crystal lattice.)  
  * Why does the reaction take several hours to show visible effects? (Gallium must diffuse into the aluminum structure before significant weakening occurs.)  
  * What does this experiment demonstrate about the importance of crystal structures in material strength?