Home > Germanium
32 Ge Germanium 72.6308

Germanium

METALLOID
Bohr Model: Electrons arranged in energy shells around the nucleus.

Germanium is a chemical element with 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. Purified germanium is a semiconductor, with an appearance most similar to elemental silicon.

← PreviousGallium Next →Arsenic

Quick Facts

Atomic Number 32
Period 4
Group 14
Phase Solid
Appearance grayish-white
About Metalloids

Metalloids have properties intermediate between metals and nonmetals. They often act as semi-conductors, making them essential for electronics.

History

Discovered By Clemens Winkler
Named By Unknown

Physical Properties

Atomic Mass 72.6308
Density 5.323 g/L
Molar Heat 23.222 J/(mol·K)
Phase Transition (Melting & Boiling Points)

Germanium melts at 1211.4 K and boils at 3106 K.

Atomic Properties

Electron Config [Ar] 3d10 4s2 4p2
Electronegativity 2.01
Electron Affinity 118.9352 kJ/mol
Ionization Energy 762 kJ/mol
Orbital Filling Diagram
This diagram visualizes electron configuration according to the Aufbau principle and Hund's rule. Boxes represent orbitals (s, p, d, f), while arrows indicate electrons with spin up or down. Electrons fill lower energy levels first and occupy orbitals singly before pairing.

Photograph

Image of Germanium Source: Wikipedia

External Resources

Wikipedia PubChem Royal Society of Chemistry Periodic Videos (YouTube)

Study Guide

Atomic Number

The number of protons in the nucleus, which defines the element.

Atomic Mass

The average mass of an atom, including protons and neutrons.

Electronegativity

A measure of how strongly an atom attracts electrons in a bond.

Ionization Energy

The energy required to remove an electron from an atom.

Electron Config

The arrangement of electrons in the atom's energy shells.