Overview

Indium is part of the aluminum family in Group 13 (IIIA) of the periodic table. The periodic table is a chart that shows how chemical elements are related to each other. Indium was discovered in 1863 by German chemists Ferdinand Reich (1799-1882) and Hieronymus Theodor Richter (1824-98).

Indium has a number of interesting properties. For example, it has a low melting point for metals, 156.6°C (313.9°F). When pure, it sticks very tightly to itself or to other metals. This property makes it useful as a solder. Solder is a material used to join two metals to each other. Other uses of indium are in the manufacture of batteries, electronic devices, and in research.