Germanium

germanium

germanite

stottite

itoite

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Formula: Ge
Element, metalloid, does not occur on Earth in the native state
Specific gravity: 5.323
Hardness: 6
Colour: Grey-white
Melting point: 938^oC
Boiling point: 2830^oC
Abundance in the Earth’s crust: 1.5 parts per million by mass, 0.42 parts per million by moles
Abundance in the Solar System: 200 parts per billion by mass, 3 parts per billion by moles (ChC).
Occurrence: The main ore of germanium is germanite, which is about 7% germanium.

Germanium-bearing minerals include:

Germanides - a germanide is any binary compound of germanium and a more electropositive element
Sulphides - the sulphide anion is S^2-
Oxides - the oxide anion is O^2-
Hydroxides - the hydroxide anion is (OH)^-
Sulphates - the sulphate anion is (SO₄)^2-
Phosphates - the phosphate anion is (P⁵⁺O₄)^3-
Arsenates - the arsenate anion is (As⁵⁺O₄)^3-
Germanates - the germanate anion is (GeO₄)^4-
Nesosilicates - insular (Si⁴⁺O₄)^4- groups

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