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Germanium is a chemical element. People sometimes use it as medicine. Despite serious safety concerns, germanium is used for cancer, heart disease, hepatitis, glaucoma, and other conditions. But there is no good scientific evidence to support these or other uses.
What does germanium do in the body?
There have been claims that germanium may be beneficial for health, including improving the immune system, oxygen supply in the body, and destroying free radicals. According to Healthline, germanium has also been considered to be beneficial in treating allergies, asthma, arthritis, HIV/AIDS and various forms of cancer.
Is germanium essential for life?
Although germanium is a high-tech element, it has evoked interest in both biology and medicine. Germanium is not considered essential for life, nor does it present any threat to the environment (Enghag 2004).
Is germanium good for skin?
Germanium is known to rebalance positive and negative ions on the skin by creating a natural microcurrent as the roller glides over the skin this will create the following desired effects when used immediately and cumulatively: Energized Skin. Slimmer Appearance of face. Contoured Cheekbones.
Why is germanium bad for you?
Inorganic (elemental) germanium is LIKELY UNSAFE. This includes certain compounds such as germanium oxide. There have been more than 30 reports of kidney failure and death linked with use of these forms of germanium. It builds up in the body and can damage vital organs such as the kidneys.
Is germanium harmful to humans?
Germanium is not an essential element. Its acute toxicity is low. However, at least 31 reported human cases linked prolonged intake of germanium products with renal failure and even death. Signs of kidney dysfunction, kidney tubular degeneration, and germanium accumulation were observed.
Is germanium safe to handle?
Route of Entry: Skin Contact Skin Absorption Eye Contact Inhalation Ingestion Germanium metal is relatively non-toxic by all routes of exposure, particularly in massive forms.
Can you eat germanium?
Germanium and kidney damage On April 23, 2019 the Food and Drug Administration updated their ban on the import of all germanium-containing products that are promoted as drugs or dietary supplements for human consumption.
What foods are high in germanium?
Germanium is a naturally occurring element. Trace amounts can be found in foods such as shiitake mushrooms, garlic, tuna, and tomato juice.
Is germanium a rare earth metal?
Rare earth elements are also expected to play a big part in the future. Cerium, the most common, is similar in abundance to copper and more abundant than lead, tin, cadmium, boron, tantalum, germanium and numerous other commonly used elements. Even so, rare earth elements are in short supply.
What is germanium an example of?
The Germanium element is not doped with any impurities. Hence, it is an intrinsic semiconductor.So, Germanium is an example of an intrinsic semiconductor.
Is germanium magnetic?
Abstract. The magnetic susceptibility of highly doped germanium has been measured between 300°K and 1.3°K. The contribution of the carriers to the susceptibility has been derived from the data.
Is germanium naturally occurring?
Germanium, categorized as a metalloid in group 14, the Carbon family, has five naturally occurring isotopes.Characteristics. Atomic Number: 32 Atomic Weight: 72.59 Atomic Radius: 122.5 pm Series: Metalloid Group: 14.
Is germanium man made?
Germanium is a chemical element with the symbol Ge and atomic number 32. Winkler named the element after his country, Germany. Today, germanium is mined primarily from sphalerite (the primary ore of zinc), though germanium is also recovered commercially from silver, lead, and copper ores.
Is germanium nonmetal or metal?
Most elements are either metals or nonmetals. Germanium falls in the same group as carbon and silicon, but also as tin and lead. Germanium itself is classified as a metalloid.
Who named germanium?
In 1886, Clemens Winkler discovered a rare mineral called argyrodite which contained silver, sulphur and an unknown element, which Winkler named germanium after his home country. 3.
What does germanium smell like?
Germane Names Chemical formula GeH 4 Molar mass 76.62 g/mol Appearance Colorless gas Odor Pungent.
Does germanium have health benefits?
Despite serious safety concerns, germanium is used for heart and blood vessel conditions, including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and heart disease; for eye conditions, including glaucoma and cataracts; and for liver conditions, including hepatitis and cirrhosis.
Is germanium a hazardous material?
Fire and Explosion Hazards: Germanium dioxide is non-combustible and is a negligible fire or explosion hazard when exposed to heat or flame. However, acrid and irritating smoke can form at very high temperatures.
What is the chemical symbol of germanium?
Ge
Does germanium float in water?
Germanium is stable in air and water, and is unaffected by alkalis and acids, except nitric acid. Germanium is an important semiconductor, mainly used in transistors and integrated circuits. They are often made from germanium to which small amounts of arsenic, gallium, or other metals. Germanium forms many compounds.
What is the freezing point of germanium?
1,721°F (938.2°C).
What is the boiling point of germanium?
5,131°F (2,833°C).
What is the atomic number of germanium?
32
How does a germanium diode work?
A Silicon Diode is a semiconductor that has both positive and negative charge polarity and can allow an electrical current to flow in one direction whilst restricting another. A Germanium Diode works in the same way but has a low forward voltage which results in it being a low power loss and an efficient diode.
What’s Magnesium do?
What is magnesium and what does it do? Magnesium is a nutrient that the body needs to stay healthy. Magnesium is important for many processes in the body, including regulating muscle and nerve function, blood sugar levels, and blood pressure and making protein, bone, and DNA.
Is Lithium a rare earth metal?
A lot of these warnings have been incorrectly categorized under “EVs and rare earth metals.” Though neither lithium nor cobalt are rare earth metals, and rare earth metals aren’t nearly as rare as precious metals like gold, platinum, and palladium, there are important issues surrounding the production of lithium-ion Oct 25, 2017.
What is the rarest material on earth?
Astatine is a chemical element with the symbol At and atomic number 85. It is the rarest naturally occurring element in the Earth’s crust, occurring only as the decay product of various heavier elements. All of astatine’s isotopes are short-lived; the most stable is astatine-210, with a half-life of 8.1 hours.
What is the rarest metal on earth?
The rarest stable metal is tantalum. The rarest metal on earth is actually francium, but because this unstable element has a half life of a mere 22 minutes, it has no practical use.
