Germanium
Germanium (锗, symbol Ge) is chemical element number 32, a Metalloid in period 4, group 14 of the periodic table, with a standard atomic weight of about 72.63. Grayish-white metalloid. Used in fiber optics, infrared optics, and early transistors.
Properties
| Atomic number | 32 |
|---|---|
| Symbol | Ge |
| Atomic mass | 72.63 u |
| Category | Metalloid |
| Period | 4 |
| Group | 14 |
| Electron configuration | [Ar] 3d¹⁰ 4s² 4p² |
| Electronegativity | 2.01 |
| Covalent radius | 120 pm |
| Density | 5.323 g/cm³ |
| Melting point | 1211.4 K |
| Boiling point | 3106 K |
| Discovery | Clemens Winkler, 1886 |
Overview
Grayish-white metalloid. Used in fiber optics, infrared optics, and early transistors. Germanium (symbol Ge) is chemical element number 32, sitting in period 4, group 14 of the periodic table and classed as a Metalloid. As a metalloid it shares properties of both metals and nonmetals and is a mainstay of semiconductor materials.
Its electron configuration is [Ar] 3d¹⁰ 4s² 4p², with 4 electrons in the outer shell, and an electronegativity of about 2.01 (Pauling). Around 25 °C it is usually a solid; it melts near 1211.4 K (938.3 °C), boils near 3106 K (2832.9 °C), has a density around 5.323 g/cm³.
In industry and daily life it turns up in Electronics / Semiconductors and Research. It was first described by Clemens Winkler in 1886. See more trends in the visualization center.
Electron shells
Electrons per shell: 2 · 8 · 18 · 4
Main uses
- Electronics / Semiconductors
- Research
Hazard
Compounds containing Germanium
No compounds in this knowledge base contain Germanium yet.
Data sources
Atomic mass uses IUPAC (CIAAW) standard atomic weights; the covalent radius is from Cordero et al. (2008). Verify on the RSC Periodic Table, PubChem and Wikipedia. Educational reference only.