Digermane
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IUPAC name
Digermane
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3D model (Jmol)
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| ChemSpider | |
| ECHA InfoCard | 100.159.079 |
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| Properties | |
| Ge2H6 | |
| Molar mass | 151.328 g/mol |
| Appearance | Colorless gas |
| Density | 1.98 kg/m3 |
| Melting point | −109 °C (−164 °F; 164 K) |
| Boiling point | 31.5 °C (88.7 °F; 304.6 K) |
| Insoluble | |
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Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
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Digermane is an inorganic compound with the chemical formula Ge2H6. One of the few hydrides of germanium, it is a colourless gas. Its molecular geometry is similar to ethane.
Digermane was first synthesized and examined in 1924 by Dennis, Corey, and Moore. Their method involves the hydrolysis of magnesium germanide using hydrochloric acid. Many of the properties of digermane and trigermane were determined in the following decade using electron diffraction studies. Further considerations of the compound involved examinations of various reactions such as pyrolysis and oxidation.
Digermane is produced together with germane by the reduction of germanium dioxide with sodium borohydride. Although the major product is germane, a quantifiable amount of digermane is produced in addition to traces of trigermane. It also arises by the hydrolysis of magnesium-germanium alloys.
The reactions of digermane exhibit some differences between analogous compounds of the Group 14 elements carbon and silicon. However, there are still some similarities seen, especially in regards to pyrolysis reactions.
The oxidation of digermane takes place at lower temperatures than monogermane. The product of the reaction, germanium oxide, has been shown to act in turn as a catalyst of the reaction. This exemplifies a fundamental difference between germanium and the other Group 14 elements carbon and silicon (carbon dioxide and silicon dioxide do not exhibit the same catalytic properties).
2Ge2H6 + 7O2 → 4GeO2 + 6H2O
In liquid ammonia, digermane undergoes disproportionation. Ammonia acts as a weakly basic catalyst. Products of the reaction are hydrogen, germane, and a solid polymeric germanium hydride.
Pyrolysis of digermane is proposed to follow multiple steps:
This pyrolysis has been found to be more endothermic than the pyrolysis of disilane. This difference is attributed to the greater strength of the Ge-H bond vs the Si-H bond. As seen in the last reaction of the mechanism above, pyrolysis of digermane may induce polymerization of the GeH2 group, where GeH3 acts as a chain propagator and molecular hydrogen gas is released. The dehydrogenation of digermane on gold leads to the formation of germanium nanowires.
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