(From the
Latin Germania, "
Germany") A grayish-white,
brittle,
crystalline, non
metallic chemical element of the
carbon family, found in composite
ores, especially with
silver and
zinc. Ultrapure germanium is used as a
semiconductor, and as its properties are markedly changed by
doping with
arsenic or
gallium, its main use is in the manufacture of
transistors. Both germanium and
germanium oxide are
transparent to
infrared radiation and so are used in
infrared spectroscopes.
Symbol: Ge
Atomic number: 32
Atomic weight: 72.61
Density (at room temperature and pressure): 5.323 g/cc
Melting point: 937.4°C
Boiling point: 2,830°C
Valence: +2, +4
Ground state electron configuration: [Ar]3d104s24p2