How is germanium created?
Today, germanium is primarily obtained from the smelting of zinc ores and from the byproducts of burning certain types of coal. The largest use of germanium is in the semiconductor industry. Germanium is also used to create alloys and as a phosphor in fluorescent lamps.
What is germanium found in?
They are found in small quantities as the minerals germanite and argyrodite. Germanium minerals are also present in zinc ores, and commercial production of germanium is carried out by processing zinc smelter flue dust. It can also be recovered from the by-products of combustion of certain coals.
What household items are made of germanium?
Germanium is used in the manufacture of wide-angle camera lenses. The element gives special properties to the glass. Because germanium has traits that are similar to silicon and tin, the semiconductor industry uses germanium on a regular basis.
What makes germanium unique?
Germanium is a lustrous, hard, gray-white semi-metallic element with a crystalline and brittle structure. It is a semiconductor. Germanium and the oxide are transparent to infrared radiation. Germanium also has the unusual property that (like water) it expands as it freezes.
Who named germanium?
Clemens Winkler
Does germanium float or sink in water?
Germanium is stable in air and water, and is unaffected by alkalis and acids, except nitric acid. Germanium is an important semiconductor, mainly used in transistors and integrated circuits. They are often made from germanium to which small amounts of arsenic, gallium, or other metals. Germanium forms many compounds.
Can germanium tetrachloride conduct electricity?
Germanium(IV) Chloride (Germanium tetrachloride) is an excellent water soluble crystalline Germanium source for uses compatible with chlorides. Chloride compounds can conduct electricity when fused or dissolved in water.
Is germanium a conductor of electricity?
Pure silicon and germanium are poor conductors of electricity because their outer electrons are tied up in the covalent bonds of the diamondlike framework. They are not conductors in the metallic sense of the word, but are semiconductors.
What is germanium tetrachloride used for?
Germanium tetrachloride is a colourless, fuming liquid with a peculiar, acidic odour. It is used as an intermediate in the production of purified germanium metal. In recent years, GeCl4 usage has increased substantially due to its use as a reagent for fiber optic production.
What happens when germanium reacts with chlorine?
Germanium react with chlorine to produce germanium(IV) chloride. This reaction takes place at a temperature of 150-200°C.
Is germanium tetrachloride ionic?
According to Wikipedia, yes, as silicides . The chemical bonds in silicides range from conductive metal-like structures to covalent or ionic .