Germanium is a silvery-white metal that has the properties of both a metal and a semiconductor.

Used in electronics to make semiconductor devices such as transistors and diodes. Also used in optics to make lasers and infrared detectors.

Germanium occurs as a mineral in the Earth’s crust, but its main sources are associated with zinc and copper mining, as it is often a by-product of their production.

Germanium has a high mobility of charge carriers and good electrical conductivity at room temperature. This makes it an ideal material for use in semiconductor devices.

Germanium plays a key role in modern electronics and optics due to its unique properties, making it an important element in the development of new technologies and devices.