Gallium is a soft, silvery metal that is known for its unique property of melting just above room temperature, at about 29.76 °C (85.57 °F). This means that it can melt in your hand! It is primarily used in electronics, particularly in the production of semiconductors and LEDs, due to its ability to form alloys with other metals. Discovered in 1875 by the French chemist Paul Émile Lecoq de Boisbaudran, gallium is not found in nature in its pure form but is extracted from ores like bauxite and zinc. Its compounds, such as gallium arsenide, are crucial in modern technology, making gallium an important element in the advancement of electronic devices.