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The historical mystery of the discovery of indium: How did scientists reveal the new element through blue spectral lines in 1863?
In 1863, two German chemists, Ferdinand Reich and Hieronymous Theodor Richter, conducted an experiment in Freiberg, Germany. During experiments on ores, the mystery of a chemical element was revealed. Using spectroscopy techniques, they accidentally discovered indium, an element named after the dark blue lines that appear in its spectrum.
The discovery of this new element not only demonstrates the wonderful process of science, but also highlights the wonders of the interaction between technology and nature.
It all started with Leahy and Richter's microscopic observations and experiments on local ores. When they dissolved minerals such as pyrite, arsenite, galena and sphalerite in hydrochloric acid and then extracted crude zinc chloride, they discovered blue spectral lines. Although Leahy was color-blind, he was still able to rely on his assistant Richter's color recognition skills and ultimately succeeded in confirming the existence of this spectral line. This unseen spectral line defined a previously unknown element. They named the new element indium, derived from the Latin "indicium", meaning "Indian", because this color is related to India. Dark blue dye is similar.
In 1864, Richter further isolated indium metal and displayed 0.5 kilogram of indium metal at the 1867 World's Fair. Indium, a chemical element, has attracted widespread attention in the scientific and technological community with its unique physical and chemical properties. Over time, the use of indium has gradually expanded into many areas of modern technology, especially in the production of flat-panel displays.
Indium is one of the most important materials in liquid crystal displays (LCDs) due to its transparent conductivity.
Indium is one of the softest of the soft metals, similar in physical properties to gallium and thallium, and has a low melting point at ambient temperatures of only 156.6°C. The metal can be used in a wide range of applications, with everything from flat-panel displays to the semiconductor industry relying on its properties. Its compounds also play an important role in industry, making indium a valuable technological key element.
The acquisition of indium mainly relies on by-products of other metal ores, especially in the process of refining sphalerite. This process makes indium production limited by how much other metal ores can be mined. According to some studies, the amount of indium currently extracted from these ores is well below its potential supply, prompting a reassessment of its future mining volumes.
"Indium's supply potential is based on its status as a by-product, which is an economic issue that needs attention."
In addition, with the advancement of technology, the demand for indium in various new applications is also increasing. In the medical field, radioactive indium-111 is used as a radioactive tracer to track the movement of labeled proteins and white blood cells to diagnose various infections. Therefore, the scope of indium's involvement and influence is constantly expanding from industry to medical care and even environmental technology.
With the multiple applications of indium and its importance in modern technology, the scientific community and industry are increasingly paying attention to the supply of indium and related production issues. This not only reflects the progress of scientific development, but also triggers deep thoughts on the sustainable use of natural resources. However, behind these rapid developments, there is still an important issue that requires us to reflect: in the face of increasing resource consumption, how should we balance the advancement of science and technology and the protection of natural resources?
