0
Germanium
Germanium (Ge) is a metalloid semiconductor. It is commonly used in optics and electronic circuitry.
542 Questions
What country is germanium found in?
Germanium is found in various countries around the world, with major producers including China, Russia, and the United States. These countries have significant reserves of germanium-containing ores and produce the majority of the world's germanium supply.
Germanium is primarily extracted from the by-products of zinc ore processing, as well as from coal ash. It can also be found in small quantities in certain minerals like germanite. Once extracted, germanium is purified through a series of chemical processes to produce high-purity germanium for commercial use.
How will differentiate silicon and germanium diode from a group of diodes?
Simple, Use the multi-meter , switch to the diode option then connect the positive wire to the positive of diode n negative to the negative ( +ve wire red, -ve wire black) if the there is a reading of =~0.7V then it is silicon. and if it is =~ 0.3V then it is germanium.
Which best describes a conducting forward-biased germanium diode?
Negitive cathode, positive anode, voltage accross barrier = 0.3V
Will a zener diode work the same as a germanium diode?
No. An ordinary diode, be it silicon or germanium, conducts in one direction only, whereas a zener diode conducts in both directions, but at different voltages.
An ordinary diode is used to rectify, using its forward bias characteristics, while a zener diode is used to regulate, using its reverse bias characteristics.
What type of diode is proper to used silicon and germanium?
A: They both have redeemable quality. Germanium has lower turn on voltage as compared to silicon however their current capability is not too great and also have a problem leaking with temperature. SO THE USE IS DEPENDENT ON APPLICATIONS
What are three facts about germanium?
- Germanium is a metalloid element with the atomic number 32 on the periodic table.
- It is commonly used in the production of semiconductor materials for electronic devices.
- Germanium was used in early transistors and is still found in some infrared optical equipment today.
Where group does the element germanium belong in?
Germanium belongs to Group 14 in the periodic table, also known as the Carbon Group. It is a metalloid with properties intermediate between metals and nonmetals.
What is the charge of an atom germanium?
The charge of an atom of germanium is neutral, meaning it has an equal number of protons (positive charge) and electrons (negative charge). Germanium has 32 protons and 32 electrons, resulting in a neutral charge.
Can you substitute a silicon transistor in place of germanium?
It can be done if absolutely necessary, but usually the circuit will not function properly unless totally redesigned to compensate for the differences between the components. This is rarely worth the trouble unless a germanium substitute is not available and the circuit MUST be repaired at any cost.
So unless you know exactly what you are doing and how to design transistor circuitry from scratch (after reverse engineering the old circuit), consider such substitutions to be impossible.
Available scientific evidence does not support claims that germanium supplements are effective in preventing or treating cancer in humans, and there are numerous reports showing that they may be harmful. A study conducted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reported that supplements containing germanium present a potential hazard to humans. As a result, the FDA issued an "Import Alert," which allows germanium imports to be seized if they are to be used as a food supplement. However, the amount and type of germanium naturally found in foods do not appear to be toxic.
Available scientific evidence does not support claims that germanium supplements promote health or increase the body's production of interferon. It also does not support the claim that germanium is an essential nutrient in animals or humans.
A study conducted by the FDA found at least 31 cases of kidney failure linked to germanium products. A number of deaths have also been reported. Most of these effects were from inorganic forms of germanium, but the FDA has also found severe kidney damage in people taking germanium that was sold as organic.
Because of the way it is processed, organic germanium is easily contaminated with inorganic germanium, which appears to be more toxic than the organic form. It is uncertain whether the kidney damage and other toxic effects reported in people who took organic germanium were actually caused by the supplement's contamination with inorganic germanium. Because of this problem with purity, supplements containing germanium of any sort might pose a hazard to humans.
In the early 1980s, small studies were done using germanium on people with various types of cancer. In the first study, even those who received the lowest doses had toxic effects, and none of the patients got better. Later, a group of 25 patients were given spirogermanium (an organic germanium product) 3 times a week for 2 weeks. Most patients got worse, and toxic side effects were common. Because of these results-many toxic effects and little effect on the cancer-studies on spirogermanium were stopped.
In 2005, researchers in Arizona started a study to find out if taking pure organic germanium (bis-carboxyethylgermanium sequioxide) might help with radiation-related fatigue. The patients, who have early stage prostate cancer or breast cancer, will be watched carefully for side effects and abnormal laboratory values. The study is still going on, and is expected to finish at the end of 2012.
Germanium supplements may pose danger for humans. Several deaths have been reported in the medical literature, with serious illness in some who survived. While organic germanium appears to be less toxic than inorganic germanium, it has been reported to cause kidney damage, liver changes, and heart problems. Other reported effects include anemia, poor appetite, weight loss, nausea, vomiting, tiredness, muscle weakness, skin rashes, and numbness in the hands and feet due to nerve damage. The toxic effects build up over time and get worse the longer it is taken. Many of these effects improve after the supplement is stopped, but kidney and nerve damage persisted and became chronic for some people.
Germanium may interfere with certain other medicines and may make seizures worse. Drugs for which side effects include kidney problems may be more likely to cause harm if taken with germanium. Very little testing during pregnancy has been reported, but at least one form of germanium caused ill effects on fetuses in animal tests. Women who are pregnant or breast-feeding should not take germanium. At this time, germanium is not recommended as a dietary supplement for anyone due to the potential for serious health hazards.
Relying on this type of treatment alone and avoiding or delaying conventional medical care for cancer may have serious health consequences.
How does germanium effect the environment?
As a heavy metal it is considered to have some negative impact in aquatic ecosystems.
Yes. Germanium is a mineral. Small amounts of organic germanium are found in some plant-based foods.
What is the energy band gap of germanium?
The energy band gap of germanium is approximately 0.67 electronvolts (eV). This means that it requires this amount of energy to move an electron from the valence band to the conduction band in germanium.
