Being a relatively new element when compared to many other known elements, Germanium has only been documented element since 1886. It has little to offer in the way of health benefits, but it still remains a useful element.
Chemical Properties
Germanium is the thirty-second element in the periodic table represented with the symbol Ge. It is located in the fourth period under group fourteen. Along with other elements like Silicon and Arsenic, Germanium is a metalloid. As a metalloid, Germanium shares characteristics of both metals and non-metals. This is what makes Germanium a semi-conductor. Meaning, that under certain circumstances it can carry an electrical charge. In its natural state, Germanium is a brittle solid which has a shiny metallic …show more content…
At that time, 1863, there were only 56 known elements to have existed. Current rate of elemental discovery was about one element per year. In 1869, Mendeleev predicted the element Germanium and some of its chemical properties. He called it ekasilicon. Regardless of how accurate his predictions were, they were criticized and discarded by other chemists.
Clemens Winkler
Two decades later, in 1886, Winkler would come along to finally discover Germanium. Winkler was given a new mineral from a mine in Germany called Argyrodite. Current chemists found the mineral to consist of silver and sulfur. As Winkler looked over the mineral, only 93% of it had consisted of silver and sulfur. Suspecting that the remainder consisted of a new element, he dug deeper. Winkler would eventually extract the unknown element and purify it, proving Mendeleev’s predictions. The element would be named Germanium after Germany.
Structure. Germanium is found naturally in five different forms of isotopes. The most stable isotope, 72Germanium, is composed of 32 Protons, 32 Electrons, and 40 Neutrons. However, the most common isotope is …show more content…
The properties of each of these are quite different and have greatly differing reactions when concerning health.
Organic Compounds
Germanium in nature is a trace element so organic compounds are not a risk to human life. Small amounts of Germanium naturally taken through diet is safe for human consumption. Although safe for mammal consumption, some organic compounds may have high toxicity levels for certain bacteria.
Inorganic Compounds
Inorganic compounds on the other hand, can be very harmful. In the early 1920’s inorganic Germanium was used in treatment for cancer and anemia. It was used in an attempt to help the immune system to combat illness. The issue was that the inorganic compounds would settle and build up over time. The conclusion was made that the treatments did not help fight cancer and the FDA stated that when used it presented health hazards. When supplemented it could cause liver and kidney failure and possibly death.
Uses of Germanium
Some of the common uses of Germanium include; Camera lenses, infrared/night vision optics, integrated circuits, solar panels, and even plastic bottles. Up until the 1950s, Germanium was practically useless. The invention of the transistor, computers, and the influx of electronic usage finally gave Germanium a
Chemical Properties
Germanium is the thirty-second element in the periodic table represented with the symbol Ge. It is located in the fourth period under group fourteen. Along with other elements like Silicon and Arsenic, Germanium is a metalloid. As a metalloid, Germanium shares characteristics of both metals and non-metals. This is what makes Germanium a semi-conductor. Meaning, that under certain circumstances it can carry an electrical charge. In its natural state, Germanium is a brittle solid which has a shiny metallic …show more content…
At that time, 1863, there were only 56 known elements to have existed. Current rate of elemental discovery was about one element per year. In 1869, Mendeleev predicted the element Germanium and some of its chemical properties. He called it ekasilicon. Regardless of how accurate his predictions were, they were criticized and discarded by other chemists.
Clemens Winkler
Two decades later, in 1886, Winkler would come along to finally discover Germanium. Winkler was given a new mineral from a mine in Germany called Argyrodite. Current chemists found the mineral to consist of silver and sulfur. As Winkler looked over the mineral, only 93% of it had consisted of silver and sulfur. Suspecting that the remainder consisted of a new element, he dug deeper. Winkler would eventually extract the unknown element and purify it, proving Mendeleev’s predictions. The element would be named Germanium after Germany.
Structure. Germanium is found naturally in five different forms of isotopes. The most stable isotope, 72Germanium, is composed of 32 Protons, 32 Electrons, and 40 Neutrons. However, the most common isotope is …show more content…
The properties of each of these are quite different and have greatly differing reactions when concerning health.
Organic Compounds
Germanium in nature is a trace element so organic compounds are not a risk to human life. Small amounts of Germanium naturally taken through diet is safe for human consumption. Although safe for mammal consumption, some organic compounds may have high toxicity levels for certain bacteria.
Inorganic Compounds
Inorganic compounds on the other hand, can be very harmful. In the early 1920’s inorganic Germanium was used in treatment for cancer and anemia. It was used in an attempt to help the immune system to combat illness. The issue was that the inorganic compounds would settle and build up over time. The conclusion was made that the treatments did not help fight cancer and the FDA stated that when used it presented health hazards. When supplemented it could cause liver and kidney failure and possibly death.
Uses of Germanium
Some of the common uses of Germanium include; Camera lenses, infrared/night vision optics, integrated circuits, solar panels, and even plastic bottles. Up until the 1950s, Germanium was practically useless. The invention of the transistor, computers, and the influx of electronic usage finally gave Germanium a