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Germanium is a group 14th element of the periodic table which is placed between silicon and tin. Its appearance is that of a hard, lustrous, brittle metalloid that is grey-white. Being a metalloid, it has properties that are in between metals and nonmetals. It is found abundantly in nature and has a diamond-like structure. The physical and chemical properties of germanium resemble that of silicon. It was discovered by Clemens Wrinkler. It does not show any reaction with acids and alkalis but is reactive with nitric acid and is stable in water. Its allotrope is germanium.
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Key Takeaways: Germanium, Germanium chloride, Germanium bromide, Metals, Base, Group 14, p-Block
Properties of Germanium
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The properties of germanium are depicted below:
- Germanium when reacts with chlorine generates germanium chloride.
Ge + 2Cl2 → GeCl4
- Germanium when reacts with bromine generates germanium bromide.
Ge + 2Br2 → GeBr4
- Germanium reacts vigorously with the molten base but slowly with H2SO4 and HNO3.
- It shows no reaction when reacted with dilute acids or bases.
The video below explains this:
Germanium Detailed Video Explanation:
| Group | 14 | Period | 4 |
| Block | p | Atomic Number | 32 |
| State at 20âÂÂÂ?¦ C [STP] | Solid | Electronic Configuration | [Ar]3d10 4s2 4p2 or 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d10 4s2 4p2 |
| ChemSpider Id | 4885606 | Symbol | Ge |
| Crystal Structure | Face-centered diamond cubic | Melting Point | 938.25âÂÂÂ\(\Box\)¦ C |
| Boiling Point | 2833âÂÂÂ\(\Box\)¦ C | Relative Atomic Weight | 72.63 |
| Discovered By | Clemens Alexander Winkler | Density (g cm-3) | 5.3234 |
| Key Isotopes | 73Ge, 74Ge | CAS Number | 7440-46-4 |
| Electronegativity | 2.01 | 1st ionization energy | 762kJ/mol |
Electronic Configuration of Germanium
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Being a p-block element, the electronic configuration of Germanium is [Ar]3d10 4s2 4p2 or
1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d10 4s2 4p2 as its atomic number is 32. The electronic configuration of germanium states that it consists of 2 electrons which are present in the K-shell, 8 electrons occupy the L-shell, 18 electrons are in the M-shell, and the N-shell is the outermost shell and has a total of 4 electrons.
Germanium
Isotopes of Germanium
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Germanium has a total of five natural types of isotopes which include 70Ge, 72Ge, 73Ge, 74Ge, and 76Ge. Out of these, the 74Ge is found in 36% abundance in nature and is the most common isotope. While the least common isotope is 76Ge which is found in only 7% abundance in nature. It also has another 27 isotopes which are formed synthetically, have high nuclear energy, and are unstable.
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Production of Germanium
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Germanium is found in the quantity of 1.6 ppm in the Earth’s crust. However, few minerals have the contents of germanium in them. These minerals include germanite, argyrodite, sphalerite, renierite, and briartit. The ore which produces germanium in the highest quantity is sphalerite. The process through which germanium is obtained from this ore is called roasting where this ore is transformed into the oxides of germanium by heating under the presence of air. Germanium is also found in Jupiter’s atmosphere and stars. The carbon from germanium is used to reduce the germanium oxide.
GeO2 + C → Ge + CO2
Uses of Germanium
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There are several ways in which the element Germanium can be used. These ways include:
- When doped with the elements like arsenic, it behaves as a semiconductor which in turn is used as a transistor in various electronic devices.
- It is also used in alloys when it comes in contact with things like fluorescent lamps.
- It is also utilized in rewritable DVDs, solar cells, solar panels, military devices like night vision and fire-fighting instruments.
- It can also be utilized in the polymerization process as a catalyst.
- It is also used in infrared spectroscopes as both the germanium and its oxides remain transparent to infrared radiation.
- Containing a high index of refraction and dispersion, the germanium oxides are also used in the making of the microscope’s objective lenses and the camera’s wide-angle lenses.
- Apart from these, germanium is used in space applications to replace the multi-junction photovoltaic cells.
- Germanium is also used in the refining of metals in metallurgy, solid-state LED’s, treatment of leukemia and lung cancer, gallium arsenide solar cells, and the gas chromatography replacing the SiO2.
Health Effect of Germanium
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The Germanium element has no major importance when it comes to flora and fauna as it is not present in large quantities. It does not have a large impact on biodiversity and the atmosphere. However, it is said that the supplements of Germanium are used for the treatments of medical diseases but the reports suggest that these supplements are not safe for use. Inorganic germanium when taken as a nutritional supplement has harmful effects on human health.
Things to Remember
- Germanium appears as a brittle, hard, lustrous metalloid of grey-white color.
- It belongs to the 14th group, the p block of the periodic table with atomic number 32.
- It forms germanium chloride and germanium bromide when it reacts with chlorine and bromine respectively.
- The electronic configuration of Germanium is [Ar]3d10 4s2 4p2 or 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d10 4s2 4p2 .
- It has five naturally occurring isotopes and 27 synthetic isotopes.
- It has several uses like it is used in solar panels, treatments of medical diseases, rewritable DVDs, and many others.
- It is not advised to consume the supplements of Germanium as they can be harmful.
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Sample Questions
Ques. State some uses of germanium. (2 marks)
Ans. Germanium is widely used in medical treatments like lung cancer and leukemia. It is also used as a semiconductor when doped with the elements such as arsenic and many others. It is also used in chromatography, metallurgy, rewritable DVDs, military devices, solar panels, solar cells, infrared spectroscopes, photovoltaic cells, fluorescent lamps, and many others.
Ques. Mention the isotopes of germanium. (2 marks)
Ans. Germanium has five isotopes that occur naturally. These five isotopes include 70Ge, 72Ge, 73Ge, 74Ge, and 76Ge where the 74Ge is the most common isotope while the 76Ge is the least common isotope which is found naturally. Additionally, there are more than 27 isotopes that Germanium possesses but these isotopes are formed synthetically and do not occur naturally. These synthetic isotopes are not stable.
Ques. Give some important reactions depicted by Germanium. (3 marks)
Ans. Some reactions which are shown by the Germanium is when it reacts with Chlorine and Bromine.
- Germanium when reacts with chlorine yields germanium chloride.
Ge + 2Cl2 → GeCl4
- Germanium when reacts with bromine yields germanium bromide.
Ge + 2Br2 → GeBr4
- Reduction of Germanium using Carbon
GeO2 + C → Ge + CO2
Ques. Give the detailed electronic configuration of Germanium. (2 marks)
Ans. Germanium has its electronic configuration is [Ar]3d10 4s2 4p2 or 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d10 4s2 4p2.The electronic configuration of germanium states that it consists of 2 electrons which are present in the K-shell, 8 electrons occupy the L-shell, 18 electrons are in the M-shell, and the N-shell is the outermost shell has a total of 4 electrons.
Ques. How can you say that Germanium is a metal? (2 marks)
Ans. Germanium is a brittle metal, which is lustrous and hard and has grey-white color. As its properties lie between the metal and the non-metals, it is termed a metalloid. For the structure, it has a diamond-like structure and the properties like the physical and chemical properties of germanium are a bit similar to that of Silicon. Therefore, germanium is a metalloid.
Ques. Who discovered Germanium? Mention the boiling point, melting point, and density of germanium. (2 marks)
Ans. Clemens Wrinkler was the one who discovered the metalloid Germanium. It is metal that is grey-white, brittle, and is found in the quantity of around 1.6 ppm in the Earth’s crust. The boiling point of germanium is 2833âÂÂÂ\(\Box\)¦C. The melting point of germanium is 938.25âÂÂÂ\(\Box\)¦ C. The density of germanium is 5.3234 gm/cm3.
Ques. State the group, block, period, and the atomic number of germanium according to the periodic table. (2 marks)
Ans. According to the periodic table, the group of germanium is 14. The period in which germanium belongs is 4. The block in which germanium lies according to the periodic table is p. The atomic number of the metalloid germanium is 32.
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