Germanium
🔭 In Your World
Germanium is a key player in the world of high technology. As a semiconductor, it was used in the very first transistors. Today, its most important use is in fiber-optic systems for telecommunications. It's also transparent to infrared radiation, making it the perfect material for night-vision goggles and thermal imaging cameras.
📖 The Discovery Story
Germanium's existence was predicted in 1869 by Dmitri Mendeleev, who called it "eka-silicon" because it was located below silicon in his periodic table. In 1886, German chemist Clemens Winkler discovered the element in a mineral called argyrodite. The properties of Winkler's new element perfectly matched Mendeleev's predictions, providing a major confirmation of the periodic table's validity. Winkler named it "germanium" in honor of his homeland, Germany.
📊 Properties at a Glance
| Phase at STP | Solid |
| Melting Point | 938.25 °C / 1720.85 °F |
| Boiling Point | 2833 °C / 5131 °F |
| Electron Configuration | [Ar] 3d¹⁰4s²4p² |
| Abundance in Earth's Crust | 0.00015% |
⚠️ Safety & Handling
Elemental germanium is considered non-toxic. However, some of its synthetic compounds, like germanium tetrachloride and germane (GeH₄), are toxic and must be handled with care in industrial settings.