Germanium (Ge): Bohr Model, Protons, Neutrons & Electrons
Germanium is element number 32, a metalloid in group 14, period 4. Its atom has 32 protons, 42 neutrons and 32 electrons arranged in 4 shells: 2, 8, 18, 4.
- 32 protons
- 42 neutrons
- 32 electrons
Protons, neutrons and electrons in germanium
Le atomic number of germanium is 32, so every germanium atom has 32 protons. A neutral atom has the same number of electrons, 32. The number of neutrons depends on the isotope: neutrons = mass number − atomic number. For germanium-74, that is 74 − 32 = 42 neutrons. Germanium has 5 stable isotopes, with 38, 40, 41, 42, 44 neutrons.
How to draw the Bohr model of germanium
- Draw the nucleus and write 32 p⁺ et 42 n⁰ inside it.
- Draw the first shell and put 2 electrons on it (the first shell holds at most 2).
- Draw the second shell and put 8 electrons on it.
- Draw the third shell and put 18 electrons on it.
- Draw the fourth shell and put 4 electrons on it.
- Check: 2 + 8 + 18 + 4 = 32 electrons, the same as the number of protons.
From potassium onwards the shells don’t simply fill as 2, 8, 8: the fourth shell starts before the third is full, so the real arrangement above (2, 8, 18, 4) is the one to draw.
Electron configuration
The electron configuration of germanium is [Ar] 4s² 3d¹⁰ 4p². Its 4 outer electrons decide how it reacts: it tends to lose them, forming Ge⁴⁺ ions.
Key facts about germanium
| Symbol | Ge |
|---|---|
| Atomic number | 32 |
| Relative atomic mass | 72.63 |
| Group · period · block | group 14 · period 4 · p-block |
| Type | Métalloïde |
| State at 25 °C | solid |
| Couches électroniques | 2, 8, 18, 4 |
| Electron configuration | [Ar] 4s² 3d¹⁰ 4p² |
| Électrons de valence | 4 |
| Common ion | Ge⁴⁺ |
| Electronegativity (Pauling) | 2.01 |
| First ionisation energy | 7.90 eV (762 kJ/mol) |
| Atomic radius (empirical) | 125 pm |
Où germanium sits on the periodic table
Foire aux questions
How many protons, neutrons and electrons does germanium have?
Germanium has 32 protons and 32 electrons (atomic number 32). Its most common isotope, germanium-74, has 74 − 32 = 42 neutrons.
What is the electron configuration of germanium?
[Ar] 4s² 3d¹⁰ 4p². In shells that is 2, 8, 18, 4.
How many valence electrons does germanium have?
4. Germanium is in group 14, and its outer shell holds 4 electrons.
Where is germanium on the periodic table?
In group 14, period 4, in the p-block. It is a metalloid.
