Final answer:
The chemical properties of gallium and indium are fairly similar as both belong to Group 13, sharing the same number of valence electrons and exhibiting typical metallic behaviors. Gallium has amphoteric oxides and hydroxides and a low melting point, whereas indium's oxides and hydroxides show only basic behavior.
Step-by-step explanation:
The chemical properties of gallium and indium can be expected to be fairly similar since they are both part of Group 13 of the periodic table. This group includes elements with the same number of valence electrons, which influences their chemical reactivity.
Gallium and indium, being metals within the same group, both exhibit metallic characteristics; however, gallium has some unique features, such as an unusually low melting point of about 30 °C and amphoteric behavior in its oxides and hydroxides, which means it can react with both acids and bases.
In contrast, indium oxides and hydroxides exhibit only basic behavior, which aligns with its more clearly defined metallic character. The discovery of gallium and its placement in the periodic table also affirmed Mendeleev's predictions for eka-aluminum, highlighting the periodic trends that help determine elemental properties.