Element cache #4 – Gallium Mystery Cache
Element cache #4 – Gallium
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(micro)
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This geocache is a part of the Element Learning cache series. The cache is not at, but is near, the posted coordinates. You will need to find out a simple fact about the element’s properties to solve the puzzle and find this cache.
Gallium is a soft silvery brittle solid at low temperatures. Gallium has an atomic number of 31 and an atomic weight of 69.723. Ultra-pure gallium has a beautiful, silvery appearance. High-purity gallium is attacked only slowly by mineral acids. Gallium arsenide is capable of converting electricity directly into coherent light. Gallium arsenide is a key component of LEDs (light emitting diodes). In the 1990s gallium nitride (GaN) was discovered to emit blue light in light-emitting diodes (LEDs). As red and green LEDs were already known, this meant that red green, and blue LEDS could be used in full-colour LED displays while white LEDs and blue laser devices became possible as well.
Gallium was an element whose existence was predicted by Mendeleev in 1871. He predicted that the then unknown element gallium should resemble aluminium in its properties. He suggested the name ekaaluminium (symbol Ea). His predictions for the properties of gallium are remarkably close to the reality. Gallium was discovered spectroscopically by Paul-Emile Lecoq de Boisbaudran in 1875, who in the same year obtained the free metal by electrolysis of a solution of the hydroxide Ga(OH)3 in KOH. From its discovery in 1875 until the semiconductor era, gallium was used primarily as an agent to make low-melting alloys. Today, almost all gallium is used for microelectronics. Gallium arsenide, the primary use of gallium, is used in microwave circuitry and infrared applications.
This puzzle is solved by finding out the answer to this question from what you have learned about Gallium. What is the atomic weight, by using the following code?
ab.cde
The coordinates for the cache are
N e5 0b.8ee W 0be 0a.0cd
There is safe parking for one car nearby. This is a magnetic micro container. Bring your own pen to sign the log. Your log entry is our reward for placing this cache! We enjoy reading your comments.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
ZNTARGVP. 35 ZCU - Lryybj
Treasures
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