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.