Germane is an inorganic compound with the chemical formula GeH4. It is a colorless gas at room temperature and pressure, stable at room temperature. It begins to decompose at around 280 ℃ and almost completely decomposes into elements Ge and H2 at around 350 ℃. It can burn in the air and emit a blue red flame during combustion, but the degree of combustion is not as intense as that of silane. Mixtures with oxygen or air are prone to explosion. React with alkali metals in liquid ammonia at room temperature. Germanide has strong self catalytic activity, and once it decomposes to form a metal coating, it will rapidly decompose. Therefore, the surface of materials such as piping must be smooth. Insoluble in water, but soluble in hypochlorous acid, slightly soluble in hot concentrated sulfuric acid. Can be decomposed by nitric acid. Can be used to produce high-purity germanium.
