Symbol: IN

Atomic Mass: 114.82

Atomic Number: 49

Melting Point: 157°C

Boiling Point: 2080°C

Density: 7.31

State at room temperature: solid metal

Indium is characterized as a soft and malleable, silvery-white metal. It looks like aluminum but resembles tin when bent. Indium is soft enough, that it rubs on to other objects like graphite and lead. Pure Indium can be polished and will keep its shine.

Indium was discovered in 1863 by the German chemist Hieronymus Theodor Richter and Ferdinand Reich. It is a rare metal found as a trace element in zinc and lead sulfide ores. The original name was Indigo because it was named after the Indigo line in its spectrum.