The Carbon family element in period 4

Germanium

Explanation:

There are five elements are present in carbon family. Carbon, silicon, germanium, tin and lead. Germanium is present in fourth period of periodic table. Its atomic number is thirty two.

Electronic configuration:

Ge₃₂: 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 4s² 3d¹⁰ 4p²

Abbreviated electronic configuration:

Ge₃₂: [Ar] 4s² 3d¹⁰ 4p²

Properties of germanium:

Its atomic mass is 72.59 g/mol.

It is brittle metalloid.

Its properties are similar to the silicon.

It is stable in air.

It is widely used in semiconductor industry.

It is also used in fluorescent lamp.