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Element story

Germanium

Atomic number 32 means that every Germanium nucleus contains 32 protons. That proton count is the element's identity: change it and you no longer have Germanium.

Start with the nucleus

Atomic number 32 means that every Germanium nucleus contains 32 protons. That proton count is the element's identity: change it and you no longer have Germanium.

Germanium (Ge) is chemical element 32. It belongs to the metalloids, and its reference state at room temperature is a solid. Those basic facts are a useful starting point for its chemistry and applications.

In practice, it turns up most often in fibre optics, semiconductors and infrared optics.

See the atom

Conceptual visual: electron shells are a learning aid, not a literal picture of quantum orbitals.

What this number means

Atomic number 32 means that every Germanium nucleus contains 32 protons. That proton count is the element's identity: change it and you no longer have Germanium.

Keep exploring

→ Germanium · Atomic structure · Periodic trends

32GeGermanium
Germanium · Ge · Z = 32

Germanium (Ge) is chemical element 32. It belongs to the metalloids, and its reference state at room temperature is a solid. Those basic facts are a useful starting point for its chemistry and applications.

Understanding the element

Germanium (Ge) is chemical element 32. It belongs to the metalloids, and its reference state at room temperature is a solid. Those basic facts are a useful starting point for its chemistry and applications.

Where do we encounter it?

In practice, it turns up most often in fibre optics, semiconductors and infrared optics.

What its position in the table tells us

Germanium sits in period 4, group 14 and the P block. That location is useful because neighbouring elements often share trends in valence electrons, oxidation states and bonding behaviour.