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.
Where is germanium found?
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.
When and how was germanium discovered?
History. Germanium was discovered by Clemens A. Winkler at Freiberg, Germany, in 1886 . Its existence had been predicted by Mendeleev who predicted its atomic weight would be about 71 and that its density around 5.5 g/cm 3 .
What are the sources of germanium?
- argyrodite.
- germanite.
- garlic.
- ginseng.
- aloe.
- comfrey.
Is germanium toxic to humans?
Germanium is not an essential element. Its acute toxicity is low . However, at least 31 reported human cases linked prolonged intake of germanium products with renal failure and even death.
Where is germanium used in everyday life?
In addition to its applications in electronic devices, germanium is used as a component of alloys and in phosphors for fluorescent lamps . Because germanium is transparent to infrared radiation, it is employed in equipment used for detecting and measuring such radiation, such as windows and lenses.
Why is germanium bad for you?
Inorganic (elemental) germanium is LIKELY UNSAFE . This includes certain compounds such as germanium oxide. There have been more than 30 reports of kidney failure and death linked with use of these forms of germanium. It builds up in the body and can damage vital organs such as the kidneys.
What is germanium an example of?
The Germanium element is not doped with any impurities. Hence, it is an intrinsic semiconductor .So, Germanium is an example of an intrinsic semiconductor.
Is germanium safe to handle?
Route of Entry: Skin Contact Skin Absorption Eye Contact Inhalation Ingestion Germanium metal is relatively non-toxic by all routes of exposure , particularly in massive forms.
Is germanium radioactive?
Germanium 76 is slightly radioactive and is the least common. Germanium 74 is the most common isotope having the greatest natural abundance of the five. Under the condition of being bombarded with alpha particles, Germanium 72 generates stable Se 77.
Is germanium magnetic?
Abstract. The magnetic susceptibility of highly doped germanium has been measured between 300°K and 1.3°K . The contribution of the carriers to the susceptibility has been derived from the data.
Is germanium man made or natural?
Germanium is not found as the free element in nature . Germanium is found in germanite, argyrodite, and some zinc ores. It is also present in coal and its presence in coal insures reserves for many years.
What household items contain germanium?
Where can you find 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 gas is germanium found in?
Germanium is located in the middle of the carbon family , which is Group 14 (IVA) in the periodic table. The periodic table is a chart that shows how chemical elements are related to each other. Carbon and silicon are above germanium and tin and lead are below it.
What is the importance of germanium?
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.
Is germanium a rare earth metal?
Rare earth elements are also expected to play a big part in the future. ... Cerium, the most common, is similar in abundance to copper and more abundant than lead, tin, cadmium, boron, tantalum, germanium and numerous other commonly used elements. Even so, rare earth elements are in short supply.
