Indium

High school (ages 12+)
Science & Technology

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/indium

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. Who discovered Indium?Discovered in 1863 by Ferdinand Reich and Hieronymous Theodor Richter via spectroscopy
2. What is the chemical identity?Element with symbol In and atomic number 49
3. What is the physical characteristics?Silvery-white, highly malleable and ductile, one of the softest metals
4. What is indium and why is it so soft?Indium is a silvery metal that is very soft and can even squeak when bent. Its low melting point and crystal structure make it easy to cut and shape.
5. How did scientists discover indium?In 1863, German scientists saw a bright indigo blue line in a spectrum while studying zinc ores. That new line led them to isolate the metal and name it indium.

Post-transition Metal: Elements that exhibit metallic properties but are located in the p-block of the periodic table, often showing characteristics of both metals and non-metals.
Indium Tin Oxide (ITO): A ternary compound of indium, tin, and oxygen, valued for its simultaneous electrical conductivity and optical transparency.
Spectroscopy: The study of the interaction between matter and electromagnetic radiation, used here to identify elements by their unique light emission spectra.
Semiconductor: A material whose electrical conductivity is intermediate between that of a conductor and an insulator, crucial for electronic devices.