Gallium acetate
# 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 $Ga(CH_3COO)_3$ 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. Gallium acetate, like other acetate compounds, is a good precursor to ultra-pure compounds, catalysts and nanoscale materials. Gallium acetate is being considered as a substitute in de-icing compounds like calcium chloride and magnesium chloride.

## Preparation

Gallium acetate can be formed using a neutralization reaction (acetic acid reacts with gallium oxide or gallium hydroxide):

    $6CH_3COOH$ + $Ga_2O_3$ → $2Ga(CH_3COO)_3$ + $3H_2O$
    $3CH_3COOH$ + $Ga(OH)_3$ → $Ga(CH_3COO)_3$ + $3H_2O$

Gallium can also be refluxed in acetic acid for several weeks to produce gallium acetate.

## 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.

