Ge
Germanium
MetalloidAtomic Number: 32 • Atomic Mass: 72.6300 u • Period: 4 • Group: 14
Electron Configuration: 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 4s² 3d¹⁰ 4p²
Phase: Solid
Electronegativity: 2.01
Physical & Chemical Properties
Physical Properties
- •Grayish-white, lustrous, hard-brittle crystalline metalloid
- •Semiconductor with diamond cubic crystal structure
- •Remains brittle even at high temperatures
- •Good infrared transmission properties
- •High refractive index
Melting Point
1211.4 K (938.25 °C, 1720.85 °F)
Boiling Point
3106 K (2832.85 °C, 5131.13 °F)
Density
5.323 g/cm³
Electronegativity
2.01 (Pauling scale)
Chemical Properties
- •Main oxidation states are +2 and +4, with +4 being more stable
- •Resists acids and alkalis better than silicon
- •Forms stable oxide (GeO₂)
- •Can form organogermanium compounds similar to organosilicon compounds
- •More metallic than silicon but less than tin
Electron Configuration
1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 4s² 3d¹⁰ 4p²Electron configuration describes how electrons are distributed in atomic orbitals, showing how they are arranged in energy levels and subshells.