germanium

[ jer-mey-nee-uhm ]

noun

, Chemistry.

1. a scarce, metallic, grayish-white element, normally tetravalent, used chiefly in transistors. : Ge; : 72.59; : 32; : 5.36 at 20°C.

germanium

/ dʒɜːˈmeɪnɪəm /

noun

1. a brittle crystalline grey element that is a semiconducting metalloid, occurring principally in zinc ores and argyrodite: used in transistors, as a catalyst, and to strengthen and harden alloys. Symbol: Ge; atomic no: 32; atomic wt: 72.61; valency: 2 or 4; relative density: 5.323; melting pt: 938.35°C; boiling pt: 2834°C

germanium

/ jər-mā′nē-əm /

1. A brittle, crystalline, grayish-white metalloid element that is found in coal, in zinc ores, and in several minerals. It is used as a semiconductor and in wide-angle lenses. Atomic number 32; atomic weight 72.59; melting point 937.4°C; boiling point 2,830°C; specific gravity 5.323 (at 25°C); valence 2, 4.
2. See Periodic Table

Word History and Origins

Origin of germanium¹

First recorded in 1885–90; German(y) + -ium

Word History and Origins

Origin of germanium¹

C19: New Latin, named after Germany

Example Sentences

A second leap overcame the problems of germanium, which performed poorly under certain temperature and moisture conditions and was relatively rare.

From Science News

The three credited inventors — William Shockley, John Bardeen and William Brattain — had found a way to create a very fast switch or amplifier by running a current through a slightly impure slice of germanium.

From Science News

The first semiconductor switch, dubbed the transistor, was made of germanium and invented at Bell Laboratories in 1947.

From Science News

Silicon is also less likely than germanium to leak current when a switch is off.

From Science News

Germanium 64 is not at all stable, and neither is Neodymium 128, but the instability can be corrected by positive beta emission.

From Project Gutenberg

In 1875 Lecoq de Boisbandram discovered gallium, which filled one of the gaps; scandium and germanium filled the other two later.

From Project Gutenberg

On the one side is carbon, with below it titanium and zirconium; on the other silicon, with germanium and tin.

From Project Gutenberg

Its negative pendant shows the same form in silicon, germanium and tin; again, the fourth was unexamined.

From Project Gutenberg

It was a true answer, for all statements made by England culminated in the one sentence Germanium esse delendam.

From Project Gutenberg