Gallium and Aluminium Can

Materials: ★★★ Requires materials not commonly found in school laboratories
Difficulty: ★☆☆ Can be easily done by most teenagers
Safety: ★★☆ Some safety precautions required to perform safely

Categories: Elements and Periodic Table, Materials, Particles and States of Matter

Alternative titles: Gallium Weakening Aluminum

Summary

When liquid gallium is applied to an aluminum can, it penetrates the aluminum’s grain boundaries and disrupts its crystal structure, making the can brittle and easy to puncture.

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:

📄 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?