How does gallium react with acids and alkalis?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Gallium is an amphoteric metal, meaning it can react as either an acid or a base depending on the environment.1

Reaction with Acids: Gallium reacts slowly with hydrochloric acid and other mineral acids to produce the gallium ion ( $G a^{3 +}$ ) and various salts. Notably, it does not dissolve in cold nitric acid because a protective film of gallium oxide forms on the surface.1
Reaction with Alkalis: The metal dissolves in alkalies, such as sodium or potassium hydroxide solutions. This process evolves hydrogen gas and results in the formation of gallates, such as $[G a (O H)_{4}]^{-}$ , where gallium exists within an anion.1