Germanium (Ge): Fun Facts and Information About the Element

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Fun Facts about Germanium

What is the symbol? Ge
What is the atomic number? 32
What is the atomic weight? 72.64
What is the melting point in Celsius? 937
What is the boiling point in Celsius? 2830
What is the density (g/cm3)? 5.32
What year was it discovered? 1886
Who discovered the element? Clemens Winkler
What group is the element in? 14
What is the electron configuration? [Ar] 3d10 4s2 4p2
What is the ionization energy? 7.8994
What element category is it in? Metalloids

Where is Germanium Found?

The metal is found in argyrodite, a sulfide of germanium and silver, germinate, which contains 8 percent of the element, zinc ores, coal, and other minerals.

The element is commercially obtained from the dusts of smelters processing zinc ores, as well as recovered from combustion by-products of certain coals.

Germanium can be separated from other metals by fractional distillation of its volatile tetrachloride. The techniques permit the production of germanium of ultra-high purity.

What is Germanium Used For?

When germanium is doped with arsenic , gallium , or other elements, it is used as a transistor element in thousands of electronic applications. The most common use of germanium is as a semiconductor. Germanium is also finding many other applications including use as an alloying agent, as a phosphor in fluorescent lamps, and as a catalyst.

The high index of refraction and dispersion properties of its oxide’s have made germanium useful as a component of wide-angle camera lenses and microscope objectives. Certain germanium compounds have a low mammalian toxicity, but a marked activity against certain bacteria, which makes them useful as chemotherapeutic agents.

Resource by T.Price

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