It is a colorless pyrophoric liquid,[2] typically handled with air-free techniques.

It was discovered by Cornell University chemists L. M. Dennis and Winton Patnode in 1931.

[3] The main routes involve alkylation of gallium trichloride.

Thus an alternative route involves transmetalation with triethylaluminium according to this simplified equation:[4] Triethylgallium readily converts to the air-stable, colorless alkoxide by two routes, oxidation and alcoholysis:[4] The sweet odor associated with triethylgallium is due to the alkoxide.

Redistribution reactions occur with gallium trichloride:[4] TEGa can be a useful alternative to trimethylgallium in the metalorganic vapour phase epitaxy of compound semiconductors because films grown using TEGa have been shown to have a lower carbon impurity concentration.