Sodium germanate explained

Sodium germanate is an inorganic compound with the chemical formula Na₂GeO₃. It exists as a colorless solid. Sodium germanate is primarily used for the synthesis of other germanium compounds.

Preparation and reactions

Sodium germanate can be prepared by the fusion of germanium oxide with sodium hydroxide at high temperatures:

2NaOH + GeO₂ → Na₂GeO₃ + H₂OAn intermediate in this reaction is the protonated derivative NaHGeO₃, which is a water-soluble salt.

Structure

it is structurally analogous to sodium metasilicate, Na₂SiO₃, consisting of polymeric GeO₃²⁻ anions made up of vertex sharing tetrahedra.^{[1] [2]}

See also

• Germanate

Notes and References

1. 10.1107/S0567740878005488. A Reinvestigation of Sodium Metagermanate. 1978. Cruickshank. D. W. J.. Kálmán. A.. Stephens. J. S.. Acta Crystallographica Section B: Structural Crystallography and Crystal Chemistry. 34. 4. 1333–1334. 1978AcCrB..34.1333C .
2. C. C. Addison, Inorganic Chemistry of the Main-Group Elements, vol 1, 1973, The chemical Society,