The French chemist Paul-Emile Lecoq de Boisbaudran (1838-1912) discovered gallium in sphalerite (a zinc-sulfide mineral) in 1875 using spectroscopy. He named the element "gallia" after his native land of France (formerly Gaul; in Latin, Gallia).  He might have also named it after gallus (cock) as a translation of his own name (Lecoq – the rooster).

Interesting facts about gallium:

• Melting point:  Gallium has a low melting point of about 86°F (30°C). It can even remain a liquid at temperatures as low as 32°F (0°C). 
• Expansion:  Gallium expands when it freezes, similar to water. Liquid gallium can't be stored in glass or metal containers because it expands by 3.1% when it freezes. 
• Uses:  Gallium has many uses, including:
• • Thermometers: Gallium is used in some high-temperature thermometers. 
• • Mirrors: Gallium can be used to create mirrors because it wets glass and porcelain. 
• • Semiconductors: Gallium is used to dope semiconductors and create solid-state electronics. 
• • Computer chips: A liquid gallium-tin alloy could replace water-based computer chip cooling. 

• • Medical imaging: Gallium salts are used as radiocontrast materials in medical imaging. 

• Discovery:  French chemist Paul-Emile Lecoq de Boisbaudran discovered gallium in 1875. He named it "gallia" after his native land of France. 
• Safety:  Gallium is considered non-toxic and safe to touch, but it's not consumed by humans, animals, or plants. 
• Structure:  Gallium exists in the form of dimers, which are pairs of atoms. It also features covalent bonds, where atoms share electrons. 

Well, folks, it appears that we’re definitely going to go through the entire periodic table, which means the following:

          On Christmas Eve we’ll be on Ruthenium.  🎅

          On Christmas Day we’ll be on Rhodium.  🎅

          On New Years Eve we’ll be on Antimony.  ❄️

          On New Years Day we’ll be on Tellurium.   ❄️

That means, unless our fearless leader comes up with isotopes or elements that I’m unaware of, on March 7^th we’ll finally get to element 118, Oganesson.  Don’t relax, though, because there will probably be an exam on March 8^th.   😜   

After that, we should be getting back to using the dictionary for the Word of the Day again.  😁

 This journey through the Periodic Table is being brought to you by GA’s own Myr the Science Wizard.     

Don't get upset, @Myr, this was all said in fun.       

Just the facts:

Gallium Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster