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🔋college physics i – introduction review

Germanium

Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025

Definition

Germanium is a chemical element with the symbol Ge and atomic number 32. It is a hard, grayish-white metalloid that is chemically similar to silicon, its group-IV neighbor on the periodic table. Germanium's unique electronic properties make it a crucial material in various electronic and optical applications, particularly in the context of the Hall Effect.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

  1. Germanium was discovered in 1886 by German chemist Clemens Winkler and was the first element to be discovered in the 19th century.
  2. Germanium is used in the production of transistors, integrated circuits, and other electronic devices due to its semiconductor properties.
  3. Germanium has a diamond-cubic crystal structure, similar to silicon, and is a group IV element in the periodic table.
  4. The Hall Effect in germanium was first observed in 1879 by Edwin Hall and is a key principle in the operation of various electronic devices.
  5. Germanium is also used in fiber optic technology, infrared optics, and as a catalyst in the production of polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

Review Questions

  • Explain how the semiconductor properties of germanium are utilized in the context of the Hall Effect.
    • The semiconductor nature of germanium allows for the observation of the Hall Effect, which occurs when a current-carrying conductor is placed in a magnetic field perpendicular to the current. This generates a voltage difference across the conductor, perpendicular to both the current and the magnetic field. The Hall Effect in germanium is a crucial principle in the operation of various electronic devices, such as Hall-effect sensors and Hall-effect multipliers, which rely on the ability to measure and manipulate this voltage difference.
  • Describe how doping can be used to modify the electrical properties of germanium in the context of the Hall Effect.
    • Doping, the process of intentionally introducing impurities into a semiconductor material, can be used to alter the electrical properties of germanium and enhance its performance in Hall Effect-based applications. By doping germanium with donor or acceptor impurities, the concentration and mobility of charge carriers (electrons or holes) can be increased, which in turn affects the voltage difference generated by the Hall Effect. This allows for the fine-tuning of germanium's semiconductor characteristics to optimize the performance of devices that rely on the Hall Effect, such as magnetic field sensors and Hall-effect multipliers.
  • Analyze the significance of germanium's unique electronic properties in the development of modern electronic and optical technologies.
    • Germanium's semiconductor properties, including its ability to exhibit the Hall Effect, have made it a crucial material in the development of a wide range of electronic and optical technologies. Its use in transistors, integrated circuits, and other electronic devices has been integral to the advancement of modern computing and telecommunications. Additionally, germanium's optical properties, such as its ability to transmit infrared radiation, have made it valuable in fiber optic communication systems and infrared optics. The versatility of germanium, combined with its ability to be doped and engineered to exhibit specific electronic and optical characteristics, has positioned it as a foundational material in the ongoing evolution of electronic and photonic technologies.