Nominal Mass |
Accurate Mass |
% Natural Abundance |
Chemical Form |
Enrichment Available % |
70 Ge | 69.9242497 (16) | 20.84 (87) | metal | 95 – 96+ |
72 Ge | 71.9220789 (16) | 27.54 (34) | metal, oxide | 82 – 97+ |
73 Ge | 72.9234626 (16) | 7.73 (5) | metal | 95 – 96+ |
74 Ge | 73.9211774 (15) | 36.28 (73) | metal, oxide | 94 to 99+ |
76 Ge | 75.9214016 (17) | 7.61 (38) | metal, oxide | 96 - 98+ |
Germanium Isotopes are mainly used for the production of medical As and Se radioisotopes. Ge-74 is used for the production of As-74, Ge-76 for the production of As-77, Ge-74 for the production of As-73 and Ge-72 for As-72. Ge-70, Ge-72 and Ge-74 can all be used for the production of the medical radioisotope Se-73, although the most common production route is via natural As (As-75). Natural GeF4 is used in the semiconductor pre-amorphisation implant process. The use of Ge-72, in the form of GeF4, improves this process and reduces contamination. Finally, Ge-76 is used to study double beta decay.