Germanium valence electrons

The information on this page is ✔ fact-checked.

Germanium valence electrons
Germanium valence electrons | Image: Learnool

Germanium has 4 valence electrons.

Methods

We can write the valence electrons of germanium using two different methods:

#1 Using periodic table
#2 Using electron configuration

Let’s break down each method in detail.

Using periodic table

Periodic table | Image: Learnool

Get the periodic table having the chemical elements marked on it as mentioned above.

Now mark the location of germanium on the periodic table.

Germanium location marked on periodic table | Image: Learnool

Next, mark the group number of germanium on the periodic table.

Germanium group number marked on periodic table | Image: Learnool

The valence electrons of each main-group element can be determined by the column in which it is located.

(i.e., all group 1 elements have 1 valence electron, all group 2 elements have 2 valence electrons, skip the transition metals… then, all group 13 elements have 3 valence electrons, all group 14 elements have 4 valence electrons, and so on up to group 18 elements)

Since germanium is in group 14, it has 4 valence electrons.

Using electron configuration

  • First, write electron configuration of germanium

The electron configuration of germanium is [Ar] 4s2 3d10 4p2.

  • Second, find highest energy level in electron configuration
Green colored number represent highest energy level | Image: Learnool

In the above electron configuration, the highest energy level (4) is marked with green color.

  • Finally, count electrons of that energy level
Number circled with green color represent electrons | Image: Learnool

The 4th energy level contains 4s and 4p subshells. There are 2 electrons in the 4s subshell and 2 electrons in the 4p subshell. So germanium has a total of 2 + 2 = 4 valence electrons.

Next: Arsenic valence electrons

Related

More topics

External links

Deep

Learnool.com was founded by Deep Rana, who is a mechanical engineer by profession and a blogger by passion. He has a good conceptual knowledge on different educational topics and he provides the same on this website. He loves to learn something new everyday and believes that the best utilization of free time is developing a new skill.

Leave a Comment