Germanium

Introduction

In terms of the development of chemistry, germanium was discovered very recently. Natural germanium derivatives tend to be water-insoluble, like aluminium and silicon, and so have low oral toxicity. Some copper ores and sphalerite zinc ores are used as the primary sources of germanium for extraction. Transistors and other electronic devices employ the semiconductor element germanium. In the past, germanium was the only material used for the first ten years of semiconductor electronics.

What is Germanium?

Germanium is an element in the periodic table that is listed in the periodic table's 4th period and 14th group. Germanium has the atomic number of 32 and the symbol is Ge. It belongs to the carbon group. The element Ge lies after Si and immediately above Sn in the fourth group of the periodic table.

Electronic Configuration of Ge (Germanium)

The periodic table's 32nd element is germanium having thirty-two electrons. The term "electronic configuration" refers to the specific sequence in which an atom's electrons are arranged in various orbitals and orbits. A germanium atom can have its electronic configuration written in two ways. These are −

Orbit electron configuration (Bohr Rule)

The atom's electrons follow a specific circular path termed "orbit" as they move around the nucleus. By using ‘n’, these orbits are stated. Where n = 1,2,3,4 . .

The orbit electronic configuration of the germanium atom is

K, L, M, N

2, 8, 18, 4.

Orbital electronic configuration (Aufbau Rule)

The Bohr atomic model makes it impossible to accurately estimate an element's electron configuration if it has an atomic number greater than 18. The orbital diagram can be used to determine the electron configuration of every element. Germanium's ground state orbital electron arrangement is 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 3d¹⁰ 4s² 4p². The electronic configuration of germanium, in short, is [Ar]3d¹⁰ 4s² 4p².

Electronic Configuration of Ge

Production of Germanium

• Sphalerite zinc ore, copper ores, and fly ash coal are the primary sources from which germanium is extracted.

• During the mining of base metal, germanium is processed as a byproduct rather than as the main component. The amount of germanium in the crust of the Earth is about 1.6 ppm.

Steps for Extraction of Germanium

Step 1 − Most of the ore concentrates are sulfidic; roasting, which involves heating under air, transforms them into oxides −

$$\mathrm{GeS_2+3O_2→GeO_2+2SO_2}$$

Step 2 − Some of the germanium is transformed into germanates, which are subsequently leached from the cinder by sulfuric acid, leaving some of it in the dust that is created. Only the zinc remains in the solution after neutralization, while the germanium and other metals precipitate. The remaining oxide is leached once more after the Waelz procedure has removed some of the zinc from the precipitate. The dioxide is collected as a deposit and transformed into germanium tetrachloride, which may be separated by distillation, using hydrochloric acid or chlorine gas. The reactions involved are-

$$\mathrm{GeO_2+4HCl→GeCl_4+2H_2 O}$$

$$\mathrm{GeO_2+2Cl_2→GeCl_4+O_2}$$

Step 3 − Fractional distillation is used to clean up germanium tetrachloride, which is subsequently hydrolysed to produce GeO_2 which is extremely pure. By reacting it with hydrogens, it is degraded to the element germanium. Normally, carbon is used to reduce the germanium for steel manufacture and other industrial processes.

$$\mathrm{GeO_2+2H_2→Ge+2H_2 O}$$

$$\mathrm{GeO_2+C→Ge+CO_2}$$

Extraction Process of Ge

Occurrence of Germanium

The Earth's crust contains a few abundant elements, including germanium. Just a few ores, including germanite, argyrodite, renierite, and briartite contain it. The germanium content of some zinc, lead, and copper ore complexes are high enough to warrant extraction from the ultimate ore concentrates. Some coal seams have a high concentration of germanium due to a unique natural process. Stars and Jupiter's atmosphere have also been found to contain germanium.

Properties of Germanium

Some of the physical and chemical properties are listed below −

Physical Properties of Germanium	Chemical Properties of Germanium
Solid at STP	Does not react with dilute bases and acids.
White, semi-metallic, and brittle elements	React with oxygen GeO2
Atomic mass is 72.6g/mol.	Reacts with chlorine to form GeCl_4
The melting point is $\mathrm{938.25^\circ C}$.	Free radicals in germyl are reactive intermediate.
Boiling point $\mathrm{2833 ^\circ C}$	The primary oxidation state is +4
Has face-centred cubic crystal structures	GeH4 resemble methane in structure.

Uses of Germanium

There are several applications for germanium. Here is a list of a few applications for it −

• Fluorescent lighting employs it.

• It's a component of reprogrammable DVDs.

• It is a crucial infrared optical substance.

• It aids in the metal refining process in metallurgy.

• It has uses in space. Photovoltaic cells with multiple junctions are replaced by it.

• It catalyzes numerous polymerization processes.

• It can replace SiO₂ in gas chromatography chambers.

Health Effects of Germanium

Germanium isn't thought to be necessary for the survival of either animals or plants. Environmental germanium has negligible to no health effects.

• Lung cancer alternative medicines manufactured from germanium have been promoted as germanium supplements.

• However, there is no medical data to justify a benefit, in fact, some data points to the actual damage of certain supplements.

• Some examples of hepatic steatosis, renal failure, and peripheral neuropathy have been reported in people who have taken the dissolved inorganic variants of germanium for a prolonged period, most notably the citrate-lactate salt.

Fun Fact

• There is evidence of germanium in the atmosphere of Jupiter and some distant stars.

• A radioactive isotope of germanium has a half-life of 130 billion years.

Conclusion

Germanium is metalloid, pure germanium resembles elemental silicon in appearance. In terms of relative abundance among the elements in the Earth's crust, germanium is close to fifty-first. The by-products and wastes generated during the processing of sulfide ores are the primary sources of recovery of germanium.

FAQs

1. What is the Germanium's hardness?

Germanium is approximately six times harder than diamond.

2. Germanium: Does it float or sink?

Water has a density of 1 g/cm³, but germanium has a density of 5.323 g/cm³. In water, germanium metal sinks.

3. Does germanium benefit skin?

Yes, an important ingredient, including germanium, is a vital component in igniting and balancing the positive and negative ions linked to age.

4. Which foods contain germanium?

Foods including garlic, shiitake mushrooms, etc. all contain trace quantities of germanium.

5. Why was Germany chosen as the name for germanium?

Clemens Winkler, a German scientist, is credited with discovering germanium in 1886.