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Germanium
Electron Configuration 2,8,18,4
Electron Configuration [Ar] 3d10 4s2 4p2
Ground state 30
Atomic Volume 13.6 g/cm3
Electronegativity 2.01
Magnetic ordering No data
Mass magnetic susceptibility -1.5 x 10-9
Molar magnetic susceptibility -1.09 x 10-10
Speed of sound 5400 m s-1
Thermal Properties
Enthalpy of Atomization 376.6 kJ mol-1 @25°C
Enthalpy of Fusion 34.7 kJ mol-1
Enthalpy of Vaporisation 327.6 kJ mol-1
Heat Capacity 23.222 J mol-1 K-1
Thermal Conductivity 60.2 W m-1 K-1
Thermal Expansion 6.0 μm m-1 K-1
Hardness
Mohs hardness 6.0
Electrical Properties
Electrical resistivity No data.
Electrical conductivity No data.
Chemical Properties
Electrochemical Equivalent 0.6771 g Ah-1
Electron Work Function 5 eV
Valence Electron Potential (-eV) 109
Ionization Potential  
First 7.899
Second 15.934
Third 34.22
Incompatibilities Acids.
Flammability
Combustible Solid, fine dust is easily ignited
Energy Levels
Kα1 (intensity 100) 9.88642 KeV
Kα2 (intensity 50) 9.85532 KeV
Kβ1 (intensity 14.4) 10.9821 KeV
Kβ3 (intensity 7.4) 10.9759 KeV
Lα1 (intensity 100) 1.188 KeV
Lα2 (intensity 10) 1.188 KeV
Lβ1 (intensity 31.4) 1.2185 KeV
Lβ3 (intensity 0.2) 1.294 KeV
Lβ4 (intensity 0.2) 1.294 KeV
Lγ3 (intensity 3) 1.068 KeV
Ll (intensity 8.5) 1.0386 KeV
Atomic Radii
Empirical 125 pm
Bohr Radius 125 pm
Covalent Radius 122 pm
Van der Waals No data.
Triple covalent 114 pm
Metallic No data.
Ionic Radii (Å)
Charge Coordination Crystal Ionic Key
VI 0.87 0.73 A
IV 0.53 0.39 *
VI 0.67 0.53 R*
R, From r3 vs V plots.
C, Calculated from bond length - bond strength equations.
E, Estimated.
*, Most Reliable.
M, From Metallic Oxides.
A, Ahrens (1952) Ionic radius.
P, Pauling's (1960) Crystal Radius.
Oxidation States
Main Ge+2, Ge+4
Other
Ionisation Energies (kJ mol-1) show graph
M - M+ 762.1
M+ - M2+ 1537
M2+ - M3+ 3302
M3+ - M4+ 4410
M4+ - M5+ 9020
M5+ - M6+ 11900
M6+ - M7+ 15000
M7+ - M8+ 18200
M8+ - M9+ 21800
M9+ - M10+ 27000
Covalent Bonds (kJ mol-1)
Ge-H 288
Ge-C 237
Ge-O 363
Ge-F 464
Ge-Cl 340
Ge-Ge 163
Vapour Pressure
P (Pa) 1 10 100 1K 10K 100K
T (K) 1644 1814 2023 2287 2633 3104
Crystal Structure
Structure Cubic close packed
a = 565.75 pm
b = 565.75 pm
c = 565.75 pm
α = 90°
β = 90°
γ = 90°