Element 32 · Metalloid
Germanium (Ge) — Element 32
Latin Germania
Germanium (Ge) is a metalloid in Period 4, Group 14 of the periodic table with atomic number 32, standard atomic weight 72.630 u, and ground-state electron configuration [Ar] 3d¹⁰ 4s² 4p². At standard temperature and pressure it is classified as a solid with 4 valence electrons and common oxidation states +4, +2.
Fiber optics, transistors
What are the atomic properties and physical constants of Germanium?
Reference constants compiled from IUPAC standard atomic weights, the NIST Atomic Spectra Database, and the CRC Handbook.
- Atomic number (Z)
- 32
- Standard atomic mass
- 72.630 u
- Chemical family
- Metalloid
- Ground-state configuration
- [Ar] 3d¹⁰ 4s² 4p²
- Electrons per shell
- 2, 8, 18, 4
- Valence electrons
- 4
- Common ion charges / oxidation states
- +4, +2
- Phase at STP
- Solid
- Pauling electronegativity
- 2.01 Pauling
- First ionization energy
- 762 kJ/mol
- Atomic radius
- 125 pm
- Melting point
- 938 °C
- Boiling point
- 2,833 °C
- Discovery year
- 1886
- Table coordinate
- Period 4, Group 14
- Radioactivity
- Has stable isotope(s)
How are electrons arranged across Germanium’s shells?
A neutral Germanium atom contains 32 electrons distributed across 4 occupied principal energy shells ([Ar] 3d¹⁰ 4s² 4p²). The table below compares Germanium’s shell occupancy against each shell’s theoretical 2n² capacity.
| Principal Shell (n) | Spectroscopic Letter | Electrons in Ge | Max Shell Capacity (2n²) |
|---|---|---|---|
| n = 1 | K | 2 e⁻ | 2 e⁻ |
| n = 2 | L | 8 e⁻ | 8 e⁻ |
| n = 3 | M | 18 e⁻ | 18 e⁻ |
| n = 4 | N | 4 e⁻ | 32 e⁻ |
Frequently Asked Questions about Germanium (Ge)
What is the atomic mass and atomic number of Germanium (Ge)?
Germanium (Ge) has atomic number Z = 32 (32 protons in its nucleus) and an IUPAC standard atomic weight of 72.630 u. It sits in Period 4, Group 14 and is classified as a metalloid.
What is the ground-state electron configuration of Germanium?
The neutral ground-state electron configuration of Germanium (Z = 32) is [Ar] 3d¹⁰ 4s² 4p². Across its 4 occupied principal shells (n = 1 to n = 4), the electrons per shell are 2, 8, 18, 4, with 4 valence electrons participating in bonding.
What are the common ion charges and electronegativity of Germanium?
Germanium commonly forms +4, +2 oxidation states or ion charges in compounds. Its Pauling electronegativity is 2.01 and its first ionization energy is 762 kJ/mol.
When was Germanium discovered and what is it used for?
Germanium was discovered in 1886 (Latin Germania). Fiber optics, transistors
How does Germanium compare to neighboring elements?
Other metalloid elements: