Is Germanium the Same as Eka Silicon?

Among the predictions made by Mendeleev were the existence, and the properties, of several undiscovered elements. One of these elements was the element now called Germanium; Mendeleev called it “eka-silicon,” meaning “beyond silicon” on his table.

What is eka germanium?

It is a soft, silvery metal at standard temperature and pressure. Eka-silicon was the name given by Mendeleev to the undiscovered element which now exists by the name of Germanium. Germanium belongs to group $ 14 $ of the periodic table. It is known as metalloid as it has properties of both metals and non-non-metals.

Is germanium similar to silicon?

It is a lustrous, hard-brittle, grayish-white metalloid in the carbon group, chemically similar to its group neighbors silicon and tin. Pure germanium is a semiconductor with an appearance similar to elemental silicon. Like silicon, germanium naturally reacts and forms complexes with oxygen in nature.