Thermogravimetric and differential thermal analytical studies, combined with chemical analysis, have shown that the fusions ofα andβ gallium oxide with sodium hydroxide are very complicated processes. The formation of sodium hydroxogallate between 60 and 110°, detected by infrared spectroscopy, is due to the effect of hydrated sodium hydroxide. A decomposition to NaGaO2 between 130 and 200° has been observed under the microscope. Above 240° gallate is formed in the reaction of sodium hydroxide with unreacted gallium oxide.