We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Chemistry

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What Is Germanium?

Malcolm Tatum
By
Updated: May 21, 2024
Views: 23,360
References
Share

As one of the three chemical elements that is understood to be a fulfillment of Mendeleev’s periodic law of 1869, germanium was first identified in 1886 by Clemens Winkler. Assigned the atomic number 32, germanium has a metallic luster and a crystal structure that is very similar to that of the diamond. Over the years, germanium has proven to be an effective chemical element for a number of applications, including the creation and performance of popular music. Here is some background on the history of germanium, as well as examples of the more common uses of the element.

While germanium was discovered in the late 19th century, the first wide usage of the element took place in the middle of the 20th century. Solid state electronics came into being as a result of the growing communications industry that was marketing a new electronic device to the public. Germanium was used in electronic equipment such as rectifiers, transistors, and diodes that helped to improve both the audio and video resolution of televisions in the 1950s. Over time, refined versions of silicon began to supplant germanium as part of radio and television manufacturing.

However, the role of germanium in the communications industry was far from over. The development of fiber optic technology for audio communications, specifically telephony, opened a whole new market for the element. In time, germanium was also identified as an excellent option for the production of infrared night vision equipment for security systems. Medical equipment such as infrared spectroscopes also benefits from the use of scandium. Germanium is sometimes used in conjunction with other elements to create various alloys, as well as in the production of fluorescent lamps. Fiber optics and infrared cameras still account for a huge amount of modern day uses for germanium.

One of the contributions of germanium to popular culture is in the creation of the fuzz box during the 1960s. Sometimes referred to as a stompbox, the device could be used to create a tone that added helped to create a distinctive sound in many rock and roll songs of the era. Fuzz boxes containing scandium could be used in a concert arena with the same level of ease as in a recording studio. In this manner, scandium added a great deal to an age when experimentation with musical form was important to artists of many different genres. Today, a stompbox with germanium transistors is considered to be a collector’s item, and is highly desired by serious musical historians and collectors.

Share
All The Science is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Link to Sources
Malcolm Tatum
By Malcolm Tatum
Malcolm Tatum, a former teleconferencing industry professional, followed his passion for trivia, research, and writing to become a full-time freelance writer. He has contributed articles to a variety of print and online publications, including All The Science, and his work has also been featured in poetry collections, devotional anthologies, and newspapers. When not writing, Malcolm enjoys collecting vinyl records, following minor league baseball, and cycling.
Discussion Comments
By ddljohn — On Oct 30, 2015

@anon22860-- I'm no expert but the texture is as the article describes it, imagine a crystal like structure with a metallic appearance. It's shiny with a grayish silvery color. It's solid at room temperature but also brittle. So it is not malleable.

Germanium is a metalloid. Metalloids can carry characteristics of both metals and non-metals. Germanium is shiny like a metal but it's not ductile/malleable. It's brittle and will fall apart, it won't take shape.

By anon22860 — On Dec 11, 2008

IS germanium ductile and malleable? Also what is the texture of germanium?

Malcolm Tatum
Malcolm Tatum
Malcolm Tatum, a former teleconferencing industry professional, followed his passion for trivia, research, and writing...
Learn more
Share
https://www.allthescience.org/what-is-germanium.htm
Copy this link
All The Science, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

All The Science, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.