IYC2011 - Germanium Traditional Geocache
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This is a cache in the IYC2011-series that is preparing for
the
International Year of Chemistry in 2011. They will
hopefully
increase chemistry knowledge as well as provide for good
cache
experiences.
Each cache in the IYC2011-series contains a clue (on the
log
sheet) to find the final IYC2011-cache to be released on
31/12/2011.
Germanium
Germanium is the chemical element with atomic number 32,
represented by the symbol Ge.
It is a lustrous, hard, grayish-white metalloid in the carbon
group, chemically similar to its group neighbors tin and silicon.
Germanium has five naturally occurring isotopes ranging in atomic
mass number from 70 to 76. It forms a large number of
organometallic compounds, including tetraethylgermane and
isobutylgermane.
Germanium is an important semiconductor material used in
transistors and various other electronic devices. Its major end
uses are fiber-optic systems and infrared optics, but it is also
used for polymerization catalysts, and in electronics and solar
cell applications. It is finding a new use in nanowires.
High purity germanium single crystal detectors can precisely
identify radiation sources—for example in airport
security.
Germanium is useful for monochromators for beamlines used in single
crystal neutron scattering and synchrotron X-ray diffraction. The
reflectivity has advantages over silicon in neutron and high energy
X-ray applications.Crystals of high purity germanium (HPGe) are
used in detectors for gamma spectroscopy.
Bismuth germanate, BGO
(Bi4Ge3O12), is used in detectors
in particle physics, aerospace physics, nuclear medicine, geology
exploration, and other industries. Bismuth germanate arrays are
used for gamma pulse spectroscopy. BGO crystals are also used in
positron emission tomography detectors.
Read more about germanium here or here.
Cache contents
- Logsheet
- Pencil
- FTF-certificate
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Ebpxf ba tebhaq