Acetate anionThe depiction of one of the bonding anions in gallium acetate.
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.[1] 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]
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]
↑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.
