Indium
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| General Properties | |
|---|---|
| Atomic number | 49 |
| Atomic mass | 114.818amu |
| Atomic radius | 156pm |
| Electron Configuration | [Kr] 4d10 5s2 5p1 |
| Density | 7.31g/cm3 |
| Melting point | 156.6°C |
| Boiling point | 2027°C |
| First discovered/ developed | 1863 |
| Most common compound on Earth | InN (Indium Nitride) |
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Description and uses
Indium is the 49th element of the periodic table. It was discovered in 1863 by Ferdinand Reich after analysing a zinc sulfide ore and producing a
yellow substance. He then asked his friend, Hieronymous Richter, to look at a spectroscopy of the substance (as Reich was colourblind), who noticed
an indigo line. Its name comes from Latin “Indicum”, meaning indigo.
Indium's main use is in touchscreens and other electronic screens. This is because one of indium's compounds, indium tin oxide (ITO), is
conductive and transparent. Indium bonds very well with glass, enhancing its use, and also allowing it to be used in one-way windows.
Indium has 2 naturally occurring isotopes. The radioactive 115In is the most common isotope, with a half-life of
4.4x1014years, and with an abundance of around 95%. The stable 113In is the least common isotope, and with an abundance of
around 5%. It is one of the few elements that has an unstable element as its most abundant isotope instead of the stable isotope.