Gallium acetate explained

Gallium acetate is a salt composed of a gallium atom trication and three acetate groups as anions where gallium exhibits the +3 oxidation state. It has a chemical formula of Ga(CH₃COO)₃ although it can be informally referred to as GaAc because Ac is an informal symbol for acetate. Gallium is moderately water-soluble and decomposes to gallium oxide when heated to around 70 °C. Gallium acetate, like other acetate compounds, is a good precursor to ultra-pure compounds, catalysts and nanoscale materials.^[1] Gallium acetate is being considered as a substitute in de-icing compounds like calcium chloride and magnesium chloride.^[2]

Preparation

Gallium acetate can be formed using a neutralization reaction (acetic acid reacts with gallium oxide or gallium hydroxide):

6CH₃COOH + Ga₂O₃ → 2Ga(CH₃COO)₃ + 3H₂O

3CH₃COOH + Ga(OH)₃ → Ga(CH₃COO)₃ + 3H₂O

Gallium can also be refluxed in acetic acid for several weeks to produce gallium acetate.^[3]

Applications

It can also be used in conjunction with acetylacetonate bis(thiosemicarbazone) to create radiogallium-acetylacetonate bis(thiosemicarbazone) complex. It can be used in tumor imaging.^[4]

See also

• Gallium
• Acetic acid

References

Notes and References

1. Web site: Elements . American . Gallium Acetate . 2022-05-05 . American Elements . en.
2. Web site: Gallium acetate, 99.9% 2571-06-4 - Manufacturers & Suppliers in India with worldwide shipping. . 2022-05-05 . www.ottokemi.com.
3. Funk, H.; Paul, A. Chemistry of gallium. II. Reactions between gallium and organic compounds. Zeitschrift für Anorganische und Allgemeine Chemie (1965), 337(3-4), 142-4.
4. Jalilian . Amir R. . Yousefnia . Hassan . Garousi . Javad . Novinrouz . Aytak . Rajamand . Amir A. . Shafaee . Kamaledin . 2009 . The development of radiogallium-acetylacetonate bis(thiosemicarbazone) complex for tumour imaging . Nuclear Medicine Review . 12 . 2 . 65–71 . 1644-4345.