title: Gallium acetate
text: # 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.
  
  