Element 32 · Germanium (Ge)

Germanium Bohr model: diagram and electrons per shell

The germanium Bohr model shows a germanium atom (Ge) as a small nucleus with its electrons circling it in 4 shells: 2 in shell K, 8 in shell L, 18 in shell M and 4 in shell N. This page has a rotating 3D germanium Bohr model, a flat diagram, a table of the electrons in each shell and the steps to draw it yourself.

Rotate the germanium Bohr model in 3D

Drag to orbit, scroll to zoom.

This is a Bohr model of germanium (Ge), a simplified picture of a single germanium atom. Its nucleus holds 32 protons, and a neutral germanium atom has 32 electrons, arranged around it in 4 shells (2 in shell K, 8 in shell L, 18 in shell M and 4 in shell N).

Ge K · 21s² L · 82s² 2p⁶ M · 183s² 3p⁶ 3d¹⁰ N · 44s² 4p²

Germanium Bohr model diagram

Bohr model diagram of germanium: a nucleus of 32 protons with 32 electrons on 4 shells, 2 in shell K, 8 in shell L, 18 in shell M and 4 in shell N, each ring labelled with its shell letter. — The germanium Bohr model drawn flat: each ring is a shell, labelled with its letter, and every dot is an electron (2 in shell K, 8 in shell L, 18 in shell M and 4 in shell N).

Germanium electrons per shell

A neutral germanium atom has 32 electrons, one for each of its 32 protons. They fill the shells from the nucleus outwards: 2 in shell K, 8 in shell L, 18 in shell M and 4 in shell N.

Electrons in each shell of the germanium Bohr model
Shell	Shell number (n)	Electrons	Most it can hold (2n²)	Subshells
K	1	2	2	1s²
L	2	8	8	2s² 2p⁶
M	3	18	18	3s² 3p⁶ 3d¹⁰
N	4	4	32	4s² 4p²

How the germanium Bohr model builds up, shell by shell

Watch the germanium Bohr model come together: the nucleus first, then each shell in turn, from the innermost outwards, with its electrons joining the ring. The legend names every shell and counts its electrons, so you can read off the arrangement (2 in shell K, 8 in shell L, 18 in shell M and 4 in shell N) as it forms.

Animation of the germanium Bohr model being built: a nucleus of 32 protons appears first, then each shell grows in around it and takes its electrons, giving 32 electrons on 4 shells (2 in shell K, 8 in shell L, 18 in shell M and 4 in shell N). — The germanium Bohr model built up in six seconds: the nucleus first, then each shell with its electrons, ending with 2 in shell K, 8 in shell L, 18 in shell M and 4 in shell N. Protons are red, neutrons yellow and electrons blue.

How to draw the germanium Bohr model

Find the atomic number. Germanium has atomic number 32, so a neutral atom has 32 protons and 32 electrons.
Draw the nucleus. Put a circle in the centre and write Ge in it. The 32 protons sit there with the neutrons.
Draw the shells. Sketch 4 shells as rings around the nucleus. A shell holds at most 2n² electrons: 2 in the first, 8 in the second, 18 in the third and 32 in the fourth.
Place the electrons. Fill from the inside out: 2 in shell K, 8 in shell L, 18 in shell M and 4 in shell N.
Check the total. 2 + 8 + 18 + 4 = 32, the atomic number, so every electron is accounted for.

Atomic data for the germanium Bohr model

The numbers behind the germanium Bohr model, grouped by topic. Radii are in picometres (pm) and energies in kilojoules per mole (kJ/mol).

Identity

Symbol: Ge
Atomic number: 32
Atomic mass: 72.6308 u
Family: Metalloids
Position: group 14, period 4
Block: p-block

Electron configuration

Full: 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 4s² 3d¹⁰ 4p²
Shorthand: [Ar] 3d¹⁰ 4s² 4p²
Electrons per shell: 2, 8, 18, 4
Outer-shell electrons: 4 in shell N

Ionisation energies

I₁: 762
I₂: 1537.5
I₃: 3302.1
I₄: 4411
I₅: 9020

Energy to remove each electron in turn (kJ/mol). A sharp jump means the next electron comes from an inner shell.

Atomic radii

Calculated (pm): 125
Empirical (pm): 125
Covalent (pm): 121
Van der Waals (pm): 211

Electronegativity and electron affinity

Electronegativity (Pauling): 2.01
Electron affinity (kJ/mol): 118.935

Oxidation states

−4 +2 +4

Charges the element commonly takes in compounds.

Physical properties, abundance and history of germanium

Bulk properties of germanium, how common it is, who discovered it and some of its compounds.

Physical properties

Phase at room conditions: Solid
Appearance: Grayish-white
Melting point: 938.25°C (1211.4 K)
Boiling point: 2832.85°C (3106 K)
Density: 5.323 g/cm³
Thermal conductivity (W/m·K): 60.2
Specific heat (J/g·K): 0.32
Molar heat capacity (J/mol·K): 23.222
Heat of fusion (kJ/mol): 36.8
Heat of vaporisation (kJ/mol): 328

Abundance

Earth's crust (mg/kg): 1.5
Oceans (mg/L): 0

Discovery

Discovered by: Clemens Winkler
Year: 1886

Common compounds

Germanium Ge
Germanium chloride Cl4Ge
Germanium tetrahydride GeH4
Germanium dioxide GeO2
Germanium tetrafluoride F4Ge
Dioxogermane GeO2
Germane, dichlorodiphenyl- C12H10Cl2Ge
Dimethyl germanium sulfide C2H6GeS

Compounds listed in the PubChem database.

Main isotopes of germanium

Isotopes of germanium share the same 32 protons but differ in neutrons. Natural isotopes come first, then the longest-lived others.

Main isotopes of germanium: mass number, abundance, half-life and decay
Mass number	Natural abundance	Half-life	Decay
68	–	271.05 d	EC
70	20.52 %	stable	–
72	27.45 %	stable	–
73	7.76 %	stable	–
74	36.52 %	stable	–
76	7.75 %	1.88 Zy	2β⁻

α = alpha decay, β⁻ = beta-minus, β⁺ = beta-plus, EC = electron capture, SF = spontaneous fission, p / n = proton / neutron emission.

More about germanium

Germanium on the periodic table – properties, isotopes, uses and the full germanium page.
Metalloids – all metalloid elements and their trends.
Bohr model of every element – the Bohr model of all 118 elements.