Germanium
Metalloid
Germanium (Ge) is a chemical element with atomic number 32, classified as a metalloid. At room temperature it is a solid. It was discovered in 1886 by Clemens Winkler.
Properties
- Atomic number
- 32
- Atomic mass
- 72.63 u
- Category
- Metalloid
- Group
- 14
- Period
- 4
- Block
- p-block
- Electron configuration
- [Ar] 3d¹⁰ 4s² 4p²
- Phase at STP
- Solid
- Density
- 5.323 g/cm³
- Melting point
- 1211.4 K (938.3 °C)
- Boiling point
- 3106 K (2832.8 °C)
- Electronegativity
- 2.01
- Atomic radius
- 125 pm
- Ionization energy
- 7.9 eV
- Discovery
- 1886 · Clemens Winkler
Common uses
Fiber optics, semiconductors, infrared optics, catalysts
Did you know?
Predicted by Mendeleev before discovery and crucial for fiber optic cables.
Experiment with the elements
Germanium doesn't form any compounds in our lab yet, but the periodic table sandbox lets you combine dozens of other real elements into real compounds — water, table salt, ammonia and many more — with their true chemical formulas.