镓、铟、铊、锗、硒、碲及铼等稀散金属可与一般常规有色金属组合成化合物半导体、电子与光学材料、特殊合金、冶金与农牧业用的添加剂等。用这些稀散金属材料制成的元器件和装置则是制造电子计算机、现代通讯设备以及宇航开发、医学、工农业、军工高科技装置的重要组成部分。有人因此而将稀散金属归纳为当代 Scattered metals such as gallium, indium, thallium, germanium, selenium, tellurium and rhenium can be combined with conventional non-ferrous metals into compounds for semiconductors, electronic and optical materials, special alloys, metallurgy and agriculture and animal husbandry. The components and devices made from these thin metal materials are an important part of the manufacturing of electronic computers, modern communications equipment, as well as aerospace development, medical, industrial, agricultural and military high-tech installations. Some people therefore will be scattered metals summarized as contemporary