Germanium itself is classified as a metalloid .
Why is germanium a metalloid?
As a metalloid, germanium has both metal and non-metal qualities . It also is a semiconductor, which means it has electrical conductivity between an insulator and a conductor. This characteristic has led to it being used in electronics.
Is germanium a metalloid yes or no?
Germanium is a chemical element with the symbol Ge and atomic number 32. It is a lustrous, hard-brittle, grayish -white metalloid in the carbon group, chemically similar to its group neighbors silicon and tin. Pure germanium is a semiconductor with an appearance similar to elemental silicon.
What family of elements does germanium Ge belong to?
Group 4A (or IVA) of the periodic table includes the nonmetal carbon (C), the metalloids silicon (Si) and germanium (Ge), the metals tin (Sn) and lead (Pb), and the yet-unnamed artificially-produced element ununquadium (Uuq).
Is germanium a main group element?
The main group elements are classified as belonging to the s- and p-blocks in the periodic table. They range from gases such as fluorine and oxygen through nonmetals (e.g., boron, phosphorus, and sulfur) and semimetals (metalloids; e.g., germanium) to very reactive metals such as sodium and potassium.
Is germanium harmful 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. Signs of kidney dysfunction, kidney tubular degeneration, and germanium accumulation were observed.
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 found in the human body?
Germanium is a chemical element that can be found in trace amounts in some ores and carbon-based materials . Some people promote it as a treatment for HIV and AIDS, cancer, and other conditions. But the purported health benefits of germanium haven't been supported by research.
Is germanium safe to wear?
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 are the benefits of germanium?
There have been claims that germanium may be beneficial for health, including improving the immune system, oxygen supply in the body , and destroying free radicals. According to Healthline, germanium has also been considered to be beneficial in treating allergies, asthma, arthritis, HIV/AIDS and various forms of cancer.
Where is germanium used?
The largest use of germanium is in the semiconductor industry . When doped with small amounts of arsenic, gallium, indium, antimony or phosphorus, germanium is used to make transistors for use in electronic devices. Germanium is also used to create alloys and as a phosphor in fluorescent lamps.
What are the properties of germanium?
Pure germanium is a hard, lustrous, gray-white, brittle metalloid. It has a diamondlike crystalline structure and it is similar in chemical and physical properties to silicon. Germanium is stable in air and water, and is unaffected by alkalis and acids, except nitric acid.
What is another name for Group 14?
The carbon group is a periodic table group consisting of carbon (C), silicon (Si), germanium (Ge), tin (Sn), lead (Pb), and flerovium (Fl). It lies within the p-block. In modern IUPAC notation, it is called group 14. In the field of semiconductor physics, it is still universally called group IV.
What is another name for main group elements?
In chemistry and atomic physics, the main group is the group of elements (sometimes called the representative elements ) whose lightest members are represented by helium, lithium, beryllium, boron, carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, and fluorine as arranged in the periodic table of the elements.
What is Group 15 called?
Summary. Members of group 15 of the periodic table (15th vertical column) are summarised as group 15 elements (or the nitrogen group ) consisting of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), arsenic (As), antimony (Sb) and bismuth (Bi).
