Historically, the first decade of semiconductor electronics was based entirely on germanium. Isotopes are two or more forms of an element. [18], Winkler was able to prepare several new compounds of germanium, including fluorides, chlorides, sulfides, dioxide, and tetraethylgermane (Ge(C2H5)4), the first organogermane. Germanium arsenide . 1. Comprehensive data on the chemical element Germanium is provided on this page; including scores of properties, element names in many languages, most known nuclides of Germanium. Germanium selenide. [48] When bombarded with alpha particles, the isotope 72Ge will generate stable 77Se, releasing high energy electrons in the process. 3. [71][72], Silicon-germanium alloys are rapidly becoming an important semiconductor material for high-speed integrated circuits. [68] GeSbTe is a phase change material used for its optic properties, such as that used in rewritable DVDs. [52], Germanium's abundance in the Earth's crust is approximately 1.6 ppm. [46], Certain compounds of germanium have low toxicity to mammals, but have toxic effects against certain bacteria. [65] The highly pure GeO2 is now suitable for the production of germanium glass.   The five stable isotopes of germanium occur in the following relative amounts: germanium-70, 20.5 percent; germanium-72, 27.4 percent; germanium-73, 7.8 percent; germanium-74, 36.5 percent; and germanium-76, 7.8 percent. Both zinc-process concentrates and ash and flue dusts from coal-burning installations provide commercial sources of germanium. Organic germanium is a man-made blend of germanium, carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. OTHER; Contacts; Terms Of Use; Cookie Policy; Nickname – Germanium. [27], Meanwhile, the demand for germanium for fiber optic communication networks, infrared night vision systems, and polymerization catalysts increased dramatically. 2. Element Germanium - Ge. Another source of germanium is fly ash of power plants fueled from coal deposits that contain germanium. Like silicon, germanium naturally reacts and forms complexes with oxygen in nature. Corrections? It is an important semiconductor material used in transistors. Germanium tetrachloride is either hydrolyzed to the oxide (GeO2) or purified by fractional distillation and then hydrolyzed. Germanium (Ge), a chemical element between silicon and tin in Group 14 (IVa) of the periodic table, a silvery-gray metalloid, intermediate in properties between the metals and the nonmetals. The most stable of these is 68Ge, decaying by electron capture with a half-life of 270.95 days. Le germanium est un élément chimique de la famille des cristallogènes, de symbole Ge et de numéro atomique 32.Ce métalloïde est semi-conducteur et a la structure du diamant, comme le silicium.Il possède cinq isotopes naturels, dont le 76Ge, qui est faiblement radioactif. Germanium is a chemical element. Regulatory process names 2 IUPAC names 1 Other identifiers 1 ↓Groups: Open Substance Regulatory Obligations. [76] Other uses in electronics include phosphors in fluorescent lamps[31] and solid-state light-emitting diodes (LEDs). Brief Profile REACH registered substance factsheets C&L Inventory Biocidal active substance factsheets PACT tool Regulatory Obligations . It also forms as a passivation layer on pure germanium in contact with atmospheric oxygen. [53] An unusual natural enrichment process causes a high content of germanium in some coal seams, discovered by Victor Moritz Goldschmidt during a broad survey for germanium deposits. Germanium was an element whose existence was predicted by Mendeleev in 1871. Isotopes differ from each other according to their mass number. Nicknames, cool fonts, symbols and tags for Germanium – Erstiaten, gerbal, Shermani. Source: Radioisotopes and Radiation Methodology I, II. [58][59] The coal deposits near Xilinhaote, Inner Mongolia, contain an estimated 1600 tonnes of germanium. Polygermanes—compounds that are similar to alkanes—with formula GenH2n+2 containing up to five germanium atoms are known. [26] The remaining 5% went into such uses as phosphors, metallurgy, and chemotherapy. (C), silicon (Si), germanium (Ge), tin (Sn), lead (Pb), and flerovium (Fl).…, such as silicon or germanium are used as X-ray detectors in the range from 1,000 electron volts (1 keV) to more than 1 MeV. freezes) from the molten state. [32] Certain present-day plants are known to concentrate germanium. The toxicology of germanium and its compounds is poorly defined. Substance identity Substance identity. Nearly two decades later, in 1886, Clemens Winkler found the new element along with silver and sulfur, in a rare mineral called argyrodite. [note 1] The chemist Clemens Winkler analyzed this new mineral, which proved to be a combination of silver, sulfur, and a new element. McMaster University, Canada. [74] The Mars Exploration Rovers and several satellites use triple junction gallium arsenide on germanium cells. The dioxide is obtained as precipitate and converted with chlorine gas or hydrochloric acid to germanium tetrachloride, which has a low boiling point and can be isolated by distillation:[65]. After neutralization, only the zinc stays in solution while germanium and other metals precipitate. From Wikipedia. 12065-10-0 ECHA InfoCard: 100.031.862: PubChem CID. However, synthetic soluble germanium salts are nephrotoxic, and synthetic chemically reactive germanium compounds with halogens and hydrogen are irritants and toxins. Under normal conditions GeI4 is a solid, GeF4 a gas and the others volatile liquids. Cosmically, germanium is believed to be one of the many elements formed by neutron absorption after the initial processes of hydrogen and helium burning and alpha-particle absorption. [35] The germanes are less volatile and less reactive than their corresponding silicon analogues. The tetrachloride, already mentioned as an intermediate in obtaining germanium from its natural sources, is a volatile, colourless liquid that freezes at about -50° C (-58° F) and boils at 84° C (183.2° F). [26][54] Only few of them (especially germanite) are, very rarely, found in mineable amounts. [44][45] The organogermanium compound 2-carboxyethylgermasesquioxane was first reported in the 1970s, and for a while was used as a dietary supplement and thought to possibly have anti-tumor qualities. ...would probably smell a lot like a hydrangeum. Ce métalloïde est semi-conducteur et cristallise avec la même structure que le diamant, tout comme le silicium. The cosmic abundance is much less than those of a number of the heavier elements; e.g., bromine, strontium, tin, barium, mercury, and lead. Others include gallium, silicon, bismuth and antimony. Germanium is widely distributed in nature but is too reactive to occur free. Single crystals of germanium are grown in an atmosphere of nitrogen or helium from the molten material. Regulatory process names 2 IUPAC names 5 Other identifiers 1 . [86], Some germanium compounds have been administered by alternative medical practitioners as non-FDA-allowed injectable solutions. [53], While it is produced mainly from sphalerite, it is also found in silver, lead, and copper ores. What other names is Germanium known by? [82] Germanium crystals are also used in X-ray spectrometers for the determination of phosphorus, chlorine and sulfur. Germanium is a chemical element with the symbol Ge and atomic number 32. [80] Germanium is useful for monochromators for beamlines used in single crystal neutron scattering and synchrotron X-ray diffraction. This element forms a large number of organogermanium compounds, such as tetraethylgermanium, useful in organometallic chemistry. [8] Organogermanes of the type R4Ge (where R is an alkyl) such as tetramethylgermane (Ge(CH3)4) and tetraethylgermane are accessed through the cheapest available germanium precursor germanium tetrachloride and alkyl nucleophiles. On a weight basis, germanium is a scarce but not an extremely rare (about 1.5 parts per million) element in the crust of the Earth, equaling in abundance beryllium, molybdenum, and cesium and exceeding the elements arsenic, cadmium, antimony, and mercury. In addition to its applications in electronic devices, germanium is used as a component of alloys and in phosphors for fluorescent lamps. The electrons in the conduction…, …materials, of which silicon and germanium are the predominant examples. [48], Germanium is created by stellar nucleosynthesis, mostly by the s-process in asymptotic giant branch stars. eV Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... 36 Questions from Britannica’s Most Popular Science Quizzes. The s-process is a slow neutron capture of lighter elements inside pulsating red giant stars. These are then transformed into semiconductors by being doped (infused) with electron donor or acceptor atoms, either by incorporating the impurities in the melt during growth of the crystal or by diffusing the impurities into the crystal after it has been formed. [30] Upon melting with alkaline carbonates and sulfur, germanium compounds form salts known as thiogermanates. [22] Before 1945, only a few hundred kilograms of germanium were produced in smelters each year, but by the end of the 1950s, the annual worldwide production had reached 40 metric tons (44 short tons). Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. Because germanium is transparent to infrared radiation, it is employed in equipment used for detecting and measuring such radiation, such as windows and lenses. [55][56][57] Some zinc-copper-lead ore bodies contain enough germanium to justify extraction from the final ore concentrate. 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Today, germanium is mined primarily from sphalerite (the primary ore of zinc), though germanium is also recovered commercially from silver, lead, and copper ores. Organic germanium hydrides such as isobutylgermane ((CH3)2CHCH2GeH3) were found to be less hazardous and may be used as a liquid substitute for toxic germane gas in semiconductor applications. Because it seldom appears in high concentration, germanium was discovered comparatively late in the history of chemistry. For example, germanium chloride and germane (GeH4) are a liquid and gas, respectively, that can be very irritating to the eyes, skin, lungs, and throat. Identified uses: For industry use only. [6] Because of its position in his periodic table, Mendeleev called it ekasilicon (Es), and he estimated its atomic weight to be 70 (later 72). In water and thus have little oral toxicity last changed on 5 May 2020, at 04:13 in! 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