Element Family
Post-Transition
Transition Metal
Space Group Name
I4/mmm
R_ 3m
Interesting Facts
- Luster of Indium is bright in nature.
- Reich and richer were looking for thallium in zinc metal and they discovered Indium metal.
- At room temperature mercury is found in a liquid state.
- A coin of pound or rupees floats in mercury.
- Because of its low melting point and boiling point it is used in thermometers.
Sources
Mining, Ores of metals
Mining, Ores of Minerals
Who Discovered
Ferdinand Reich and Hieronymous Theodor Richter
Ancient Chinese and Indians
Discovery
In 1863
Before 2000 BCE
Abundance In Earth's Crust
Uses & Benefits
- It is used to produce indium tin oxide (ITO), it is used in manufacturing touch screens, flat screen TVs and solar panels.
- Its nitride, phosphide and antimonide are used in transistors and microchips.
- It is a liquid metal at room temperature, but it is a toxic heavy metal and hence many uses of mercury are under review or phased out.
- It is manly used as a catalysts in chemical industry.
Industrial Uses
Aerospace Industry, Automobile Industry
Electrical Industry, Electronic Industry
Medical Uses
Medical Research
Dentistry
Other Uses
Alloys, In Nuclear Reactors
Alloys, Mirror Manufacturing, Pharmaceutical Industry
Toxicity
Non Toxic
Highly Toxic
Present in Human Body
Yes
Yes
Physical State
Solid
Liquid
Color
Silvery Gray
Silver
Pauling Electronegativity
Sanderson Electronegativity
Allred Rochow Electronegativity
Mulliken-Jaffe Electronegativity
Pauling Electropositivity
Electrochemical Equivalent
Other Chemical Properties
Ionization, Radioactive Isotopes, Radioactivity, Solubility
Flammability, Ionization, Solubility
Electron Configuration
[Kr] 4d10 5s2 5p1
[Xe] 4f14 5d10 6s2
Crystal Structure
Tetragonal (TETR)
Rhombohedral (RHO)
Crystal Lattice
TETR-Crystal-Structure-of-Indium.jpg#100
RHO-Crystal-Structure-of-Mercury.jpg#100
Valence Electron Potential
Lattice Angles
π/2, π/2, π/2
-
Density At Room Temperature
Density When Liquid (at m.p.)
Other Mechanical Properties
Ductile, Malleable
-
Magnetic Ordering
Diamagnetic
Diamagnetic
Electrical Property
Conductor
Conductor