Germanium is a chemical element, with atomic number 32, and appears right below silicon in the periodic table.Although it had been predicted along with the correct atomic weight and atomic number before its discovery, it was first found by Clemens Winkler in 1886. Germanium is held in the category of metalloid elements.As of 31 December 2011, US Defence Logistics had 36,072 lb (16,362 kg) of germanium in their inventory. Germanium did not have any good economic value until 1945 after its importance and properties were recognized as a semiconductor in electronics and the germanium transistor became a thing. Germanium lacks natural abundance and is present in a ratio of 1.5 ppm. It is commonly found in places like Alaska, Tennessee, and China. Naturally occurring germanium has five isotopes with 70-76 electrons in them. Germanium dioxide is used as a catalyst for the production of some other compounds. In this article, we will be revealing 24 germanium facts that are going to give you a good understanding of this widely used semiconductor.Facts About GermaniumWe have read about germanium in our chemistry books but there are still some topics that we miss. Here we have a list of facts about germanium that are unique to this element.The chemical symbol of germanium is ‘Ge’, with 32 as its atomic number in the periodic table. It is a hard and brittle element in nature.This element was discovered in 1886 by Clemens A. Winkler, a German chemist. He found it in an ore (presently called argyrodite) which was found near Freiberg, Germany by a miner. Its first element extraction took a much longer time than what it takes today.The element had already been predicted by famous chemist Dmitri Mendeleev by observing the gap in the periodic table between tin(Sn) and silicon(Si) but it was added into a periodic table as a new element, with the symbol ‘Ge’.At that time, Mendeleev had named the undiscovered element Ekasilicon.He also calculated and guessed the atomic weight to be 72 and it turned out to be very accurate to the actual weight of germanium.The melting point of germanium is 1720.85 F (938 C).The boiling point of germanium is 5131 F (2833 C).Uses Of GermaniumAfter knowing more about germanium, now you must be wondering what fields this element is used in. In this section, we are going to discuss the uses of germanium and how it has helped in the evolution of technology.Germanium was mostly used in the semiconductor industry. Along with gallium, arsenic, phosphorus, or some other elements, it is used to manufacture germanium transistors that are used in electronic devices.Although nowadays germanium has been replaced by silicon in transistors as it is a more stable option and works better at higher temperatures.Germanium-made transistors were greatly used in World War II. However, germanium is still used in solar panels, solar cells, fiber optics, and LEDs as it has a higher melting point.Unlike conventional silica-based glass, it has unique optical properties like being invisible to infrared optics. Some of the germanium supplements made from either organic or inorganic germanium are also marketed as capable of treating diseases such as leukemia and lung cancer.Germanium is also used as an alloying agent for silver as it prevents it from tarnishing.The dispersion properties of its oxides and high refraction index make germanium a useful component in wide-angle cameras and some microscope objectives.Some germanium compounds can be used to stop the activities of certain bacteria and make them useful chemotherapeutic agents.Inorganic germanium is likely unsafe to humans, especially our kidneys.Nowadays, it is a compound is used in electronic devices.Germanium is one of the elements that is also used inside fluorescent lamps and tubes that allow them to glow and it is also used in solar cells.Many space missions such as the Mars Exploration Rovers, also use germanium cells in their technology.Germanium’s PropertiesIn the next section, we will be discussing the properties of germanium that distinguish it from other elements and decide how it is used in different fields of science.Germanium in its pure form is a lustrous, brittle, and hard metalloid element with a gray-white color.It has five stable isotopes and out of them, Ge-74 is the highest occurring isotope.Germanium is a poor conductor of electricity and is put in the category of semiconductors.Germanium and germanium oxide are transparent to infrared radiation, hence their use in camera lenses.It can dissolve with acids if provided oxygen at a high temperature. Germanium becomes more active if it is finely divided.Germanium’s Extraction ProcessAs we know, there aren’t many elements that occur in nature freely in their pure form. They have to go through a number of extraction and refining processes. In this segment, we will be discussing the extraction process of germanium.China is a major producer of germanium with around 60% of total germanium coming from there.They produce 60% of their germanium from zinc ores while the remaining 40% is from coal fly ash.Other than China, Russia, Canada, Finland, and the United States also manufacture germanium.Germanium is usually extracted from coal ash fly and is a by-product of zinc production.75% percent of global germanium production is from zinc ores while the remaining 25% comes from dorm coal.Germanium ores are very rare and are found on a small scale as the minerals germanite and argyrodite.
Germanium is a chemical element, with atomic number 32, and appears right below silicon in the periodic table.
