gallium vs. lead

[Overmod]

Considering certain other problems with gallium, including its behavior with aluminum and other metals and alloys, I fail to see what point there could be in using it in combination with some denser material actually suitable for locomotive weights, for what I presume would be some sort of formable weight like dental amalgam.

[Trainman440]

Lead is about twice as dense as Gallium. Gallium also has a very low melting temperature, which is why its NOT recommended to be placed in locos as weight. If your motor heats up even a little it could be detrimental.

Charles

[7j43k]

xboxtravis7992

 

Unless you want to give depleted uranium weights a try or something outlandish like that. :P 

 

 

 

Tungsten is denser than uranium.  Depleted or not.  So is gold.

Gold is very easy to work, a definite plus.  Tungsten is very difficult to work, a minus.

I'd go with gold.

 

That said, if you're the kind of guy who's always trying to save a buck, I'd go with lead.

 

Ed

[xboxtravis7992]

Mr B & O

It depends.  One gram of gallium weighs the same as one gram of lead.  One mole of gallium weighs 69.72 grams, one mole of lead weighs 207.2 grams.  So what you really want to know is which metal is more dense.

Greg

 

 

banjobenne1

Does gallium weigh as much as lead?

 

 

 

 

 

 

To expand on that, just look at a periodic table. It shows how lead is much heavier than gallium due to lead having the higher atomic number. Gallium though if you want a heavier material is certainly more heavy than iron, zinc or aluminum; and although not as heavy its certainly cheaper than platinum or gold. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/periodic-table/

Just make sure to wash your hands after working with lead, and especially be careful if milling it since lead can be risky for your health; but as long as you are taking the proper precautions it is the heaviest and most importantly cheapest at it material you can find on market.

Unless you want to give depleted uranium weights a try or something outlandish like that. :P 

[MisterBeasley]

Can you go to your local bait and tackle shop and buy gallium fishing weights?

[Mr B & O]

It depends.  One gram of gallium weighs the same as one gram of lead.  One mole of gallium weighs 69.72 grams, one mole of lead weighs 207.2 grams.  So what you really want to know is which metal is more dense.

Greg

banjobenne1

Does gallium weigh as much as lead?

 

 

[nyoandw]

One pound of gallium weighs the same as one pound of lead.  However, one pound of gallium will take up more space than one pound of lead.  And your gallium will melt at 85 degrees or so, so it may be messier than lead.

[banjobenne1]

Does gallium weigh as much as lead?