How many valence electrons are in a neutral atom of germanium (Ge)
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
A neutral atom of germanium (Ge) has four valence electrons.
To understand why, we need to examine its position in the periodic table and its electron configuration. Germanium is element number 32 and belongs to group 14. Elements in this group typically have four valence electrons. These are the electrons that reside in the outermost shell of an atom and are involved in chemical bonding.
The electron configuration of germanium is 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 3d¹⁰ 4s² 4p². The valence shell is the fourth shell, which contains the 4s² and 4p² electrons. Adding these gives us two electrons from the 4s orbital and two from the 4p orbital, totaling four valence electrons.
These electrons are the most loosely held and play a central role in chemical reactions. When germanium forms compounds, it often shares these four electrons with other atoms to achieve a full outer shell, making it capable of forming up to four covalent bonds. This bonding behavior is similar to that of carbon and silicon, its neighbors in the periodic table.
The ability to form multiple stable covalent bonds makes germanium important in various technological applications. For example, it is widely used in semiconductors, fiber optics, and infrared optics. Its electrical properties depend strongly on the behavior of these valence electrons, which can be influenced by doping or external fields.
Grasping the concept of valence electrons also helps explain trends in reactivity across the periodic table. Elements in the same group have similar chemical properties because they share the same number of valence electrons. For germanium, its four valence electrons place it in a unique position to form versatile bonds and participate in a wide range of chemical interactions.
