Gallium spoon being placed in warm water. Gallium is a metallic element with a melting point of only 29.8 degrees Celsius, so it melts rapidly in warm water. Gallium compounds are widely used in the electronics industry as they are semiconductors, and the metal is a component of liquid metal alloys used in thermometers as a safer alternative to mercury. The main use for elemental gallium is in trick spoons and other science demonstrations.