GERMANIUM

CARBON GROUP

Atomic number:	32
Group numbers:	14
Period:	4
Electronic configuration:	[Ar] 3d¹⁰ 4s² 4p²
Formal oxidation number:	+2 +4
Electronegativities:	2.01
Atomic radius / pm:	122.5
Relative atomic mass:	72.630(8)

Germanium was discovered by Clemens Alexander Winkler (DE) in 1886. The origin of the name comes from the Latin word Germania meaning Germany. It is a greyish-white semi-metal, stable in air and water. Germanium is unaffected by alkalis and most (except nitric) acids. Germanium is obtained from refining copper, zinc and lead. It is widely used in semiconductors when combined with tiny amounts of phosphorus, arsenic, gallium and antimony. The price of 99.9999 % pure germanium ingot is 1088.10 € for 120 g.

PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
Density / g dm^-3:	5323	(293 K)
	5490	(m.p.)
Molar volume / cm³mol^-1:	13.65	(293 K)
	13.23	(m.p.)
Electrical resistivity / µΩcm:	46000000	(20 °C)

THERMAL PROPERTIES
Thermal conductivity / W m^-1K^-1:	59.9
Melting point / °C:	938.25
Boiling point / °C:	2833
Heat of fusion / kJ mol^-1:	34.7
Heat of vaporization / kJ mol^-1:	327.6
Heat of atomization / kJ mol^-1:	373.8

IONIZATION ENERGIES
First ionization energy / kJ mol^-1:	762.18
Second ionization energy / kJ mol^-1:	1537.47
Third ionization energy / kJ mol^-1:	3302.15

ABUNDANCE OF ELEMENT
in the atmosphere / ppm:	-
in the Earth's crust / ppm:	1.6
in the oceans / ppm:	0.0001

CRYSTALLOGRAPHIC DATA
Crystal structure:	face-centered cubic
Unit-cell dimensions / pm:	a=565.754
Space group:	Fd3m

ISOTOPES
Isotope	Relative atomic mass	Mass percent (%)
⁷⁰Ge	69.924250(2)	21.23(4)
⁷²Ge	71.922076(2)	27.66(3)
⁷³Ge	72.923459(2)	7.73(1)
⁷⁴Ge	73.921178(2)	35.94(2)
⁷⁶Ge	75.921403(2)	7.44(2)

REDUCTION POTENTIALS
Balanced half-reaction	E^o / V
Ge²⁺ + 2e^- → Ge(s)	+0.00
GeO₂(s) + 4H⁺ + 2e^- → Ge²⁺ + 2H₂O	- 0.25
GeO₂(s) + 4H⁺ + 4e^- → Ge + 2H₂O	- 0.01
H₂GeO₃ + 4H⁺ + 4e^- → Ge(s) + 3H₂O	- 0.13
GeO(s) + 2H⁺ + 2e^- → Ge(s) + H₂O	- 0.29

31 Gallium

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32 Germanium

→

33 Arsenic

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Citing this page:

Generalic, Eni. "Germanium." EniG. Periodic Table of the Elements. KTF-Split, 18 Jan. 2024. Web. {Date of access}. <https://www.periodni.com/ge.html>.