DIY Liquid Mirror Experiment!! This Metal Melts In Your Hand! (Watch Video)

Have you heard about this cool DIY liquid mirror experiment? It's currently trending on the internet. Everyone wants to get a supply of this fascinating metal that melts in your hands. You can mold it, play with it, and, if you follow the proper procedure, you can even use it to dissolve soda cans. It has a similar appearance to mercury, but unlike mercury, it is non-toxic. You can buy it in vials online � and, when you get it home, you can either put it in hot water to melt it or simply warm it up as you hold it. You can also use a hair dryer to dissolve it more quickly. Because it's so much fun to work with, people are using it in a number of trending DIY chemistry experiments on the Web.

What is it, exactly? The mysterious metal's name is gallium and it was discovered in 1875 by Paul-�mile Lecoq de Boisbaudran. It's named after the Latin name for France, which is Gallia, because it was first discovered there. Gallium is in group 13 of the periodic table, which gives it similarities to some of the other metals in that group, including aluminum, thalium, and indium. Gallium melts at 85 degrees Fahrenheit, and, because it looks and behaves a lot like mercury, it's often used as a non-toxic, eco-friendly substitute for mercury in thermometers. Classified as a post-transition metal, gallium is a silvery-white colour when it's in solid form. Because of its sheen and colour, it's often used as a silver backing for mirrors. Where does gallium come from? It is not a free-forming element, but is found as a trace element in aluminum, diaspore, germanite, bauxite, coal, and sphalerite. It's often obtained as a bi-product in the manufacturing process of aluminum. Gallium can be used to moisten glass and ceramics; it's also used to make switches, heat transfer systems, and barometers. It also works really well in the making of heating and thermal cooling devices. Because it bonds so well with other metals, it's often combined with low-melting alloys. Have you ever heard of gallium nitride or gallium arsenide? They are both important materials used in the making of semi-conductors and light-emitting diodes, otherwise known as LEDs. Another term you might have come across is a �gallium scan�, which is a test used in nuclear medicine that utilizes Gallium-67, a radio-active isotope, to search for infection, inflammation, and cancerous growths within the body.

Gallium has recently been re-discovered by the young internet community, who enjoy using it in DIY chemistry experiments and trending videos. The DIY, or do-it-yourself, movement is all about trying out new things on your own � without the help of the experts. In this DIY Liquid Mirror experiment, YouTube show host Collins Key tries out several fun experiments with gallium, to see what its magical properties are. This is a fun experiment for kids to try as well, as long as they are supervised by an adult, and as long as they wash their hands after handling the metal � it may be non-toxic, but it's still probably not a good idea to get it into your mouth, or to swallow it. Vials of gallium can be purchased on amazon.com, and if you are careful with them, your gallium can last forever. You can make your own coins, mirror balls, cubes, and other pendants with it � but just remember, it will melt in your hands if you hold onto it too long. So it's best to not get too attached to your gallium creations. This fun video comes from the Collins Key YouTube channel, where you can find lots of other great trending new videos, magic tricks, and other great DIY experiments.*