Melting Gallium in Your Hand

Gallium, a metal with a melting point of 29.76 °C (85.6 °F), can melt in the palm of your hand. The demonstration shows how body heat is enough to turn solid gallium into a silvery liquid.

1. Obtain a sample of pure gallium (coin-sized pieces work well).
2. Place the gallium in the palm of your hand and allow your body heat to warm it.
3. Wait 3–5 minutes for the gallium to melt into a shiny liquid metal.
4. When finished, tilt your hand to pour the liquid gallium into a non-metal container.
5. Allow the gallium to cool and crystallize, observing the crystal formation.

Science Experiments – Having Fun With Gallium - American Welding Society ®:

📄 How to Melt Gallium Metal in Your Hand - Thought Co: https://www.thoughtco.com/melt-gallium-metal-in-your-hand-607521

• Use a gallium spoon and “melt” it in hot water to perform a science magic trick.

• Wash hands thoroughly after handling gallium.
• Gallium wets skin and glass, leaving a gray residue that can be hard to wash off. Wearing gloves is optional but recommended.
• Do not allow gallium to contact jewelry or metal containers—it can damage them.
• Store gallium in plastic or flexible containers since it expands upon cooling.
• Do not ingest gallium or use it near food or drink.

• Why does gallium melt in your hand but not at room temperature? (Its melting point is just above room temperature, so body heat provides enough energy to melt it.)
• Why is gallium stored in plastic instead of glass? (Gallium wets glass and expands as it solidifies, which could crack rigid containers.)
• How does supercooling demonstrate the difference between liquid and solid states? (It shows that gallium can remain liquid below its freezing point until a disturbance initiates crystallization.)
• What makes gallium different from other metals like aluminum or iron? (It has an unusually low melting point, is non-toxic compared to mercury, and exhibits unusual crystalline properties.)