Germanium (Ge)
[Ar] 3d¹⁰ 4s² 4p². 2 unpaired electrons, period 4, group 14, p block.
Element or ion
Type a symbol, a name or an atomic number, add a charge such as Fe3+ or Cl-, or tap an element in the table. Orbitals fill from m = −l up, spin +½ first.
GeGermanium, Z = 32, 72.63 u
[Ar] 3d10 4s2 4p2
In full: 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 3d¹⁰ 4s² 4p²
- Blockp block
- Period4
- Group14
- Valence4
- Unpaired2
- MagneticPara
Last electron 4p
- n4shell
- l1p subshell
- m0orbital
- s+½spin up
Step by step
- Germanium has 32 electrons.
- Fill in (n + l) order: 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 4s² 3d¹⁰ 4p².
- Write the subshells in order of n: 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 3d¹⁰ 4s² 4p².
- Replace the argon core with [Ar]: [Ar] 3d¹⁰ 4s² 4p².
Germanium (Ge): the numbers
| Atomic number | 32 |
|---|---|
| Atomic mass | 72.63 u |
| Period | 4 |
| Group | 14 |
| Block | p block |
| Valence electrons | 4 |
| Unpaired electrons | 2 |
| Magnetic | paramagnetic |
| Last electron | 4p: n = 4, l = 1, m = 0, s = +1/2 |
Germanium (Ge): quick answers
What is the electronic configuration of germanium?
Germanium has 32 electrons: 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 3d¹⁰ 4s² 4p², or [Ar] 3d¹⁰ 4s² 4p² in short.
How many unpaired electrons does germanium have?
Germanium has 2 unpaired electrons, so it is paramagnetic. Put one electron in each box of a subshell before pairing (Hund’s rule) to see them.
What are the quantum numbers of the last electron of germanium?
The last electron goes into 4p: n = 4, l = 1, m = 0, s = +1/2. Orbitals fill from m = −l up, spin +½ first.