Germanium

Germanium is a chemical element with the symbol Ge and atomic number 32. It is a lustrous, hard, grayish-white metalloid in the carbon group, chemically similar to its group neighbors tin and silicon. Germanium is mainly used in electronics, as a semiconductor material, and in some optical applications.

Basic Properties of Germanium:

• Atomic number: 32
• Atomic mass: 72.63
• Phase at room temperature: Solid
• Classification: Metalloid
• Electron configuration: [Ar] 3d¹⁰ 4s² 4p²

Study Guide:

Physical Properties:

• Germanium is a lustrous, hard, grayish-white metalloid.
• It has a high melting point of 938.25°C and a boiling point of 2833°C.
• Germanium is brittle and crystalline, with a diamond cubic crystal structure.

Chemical Properties:

• Germanium is relatively inert at room temperature, but it does react with oxygen and halogens at higher temperatures.
• It forms compounds with hydrogen, oxygen, and other elements, and can act as both a metal and a nonmetal in chemical reactions.

Uses of Germanium:

• Germanium is an important semiconductor material used in transistors and other electronic devices.
• It is also used in infrared optics and as a catalyst in some organic chemical reactions.
• Germanium compounds are used in fluorescent lamps and as additives to glass to increase its refractive index.

Interesting Facts:

• Germanium was one of the elements predicted by Dmitri Mendeleev in his periodic table before its discovery.
• It was first isolated in 1886 by Clemens Winkler.