Editing Germanium (section)

=== Isotopes ===
{{main|Isotopes of germanium}}
Germanium occurs in five natural [[isotope]]s: {{SimpleNuclide|Germanium|70}}, {{SimpleNuclide|Germanium|72}}, {{SimpleNuclide|Germanium|73}}, {{SimpleNuclide|Germanium|74}}, and {{SimpleNuclide|Germanium|76}}. Of these, {{SimpleNuclide|Germanium|76}} is very slightly radioactive, decaying by [[double beta decay]] with a [[half-life]] of {{val|1.78|e=21|u=years}}. {{SimpleNuclide|Germanium|74}} is the most common isotope, having a [[natural abundance]] of approximately 36%. {{SimpleNuclide|Germanium|76}} is the least common with a natural abundance of approximately 7%.<ref name="nubase">{{NUBASE 2003}}</ref> When bombarded with alpha particles, the isotope {{SimpleNuclide|Germanium|72}} will generate stable {{SimpleNuclide|Selenium|77|link=yes}}, releasing high energy electrons in the process.<ref name="72Ge" /> Because of this, it is used in combination with [[radon]] for [[Atomic battery|nuclear batteries]].<ref name="72Ge">Perreault, Bruce A. [https://patents.google.com/patent/US7800286 "Alpha Fusion Electrical Energy Valve"], US Patent 7800286, issued September 21, 2010. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071012103442/http://www.nuenergy.org/disclosures/AlphaFusionPatent_05-04-2007.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071012103442/http://www.nuenergy.org/disclosures/AlphaFusionPatent_05-04-2007.pdf |archive-date=2007-10-12 |url-status=live |date=October 12, 2007 |title=PDF copy }}</ref>

At least 27 [[radioisotope]]s have also been synthesized, ranging in atomic mass from 58 to 89. The most stable of these is {{SimpleNuclide|Germanium|68}}, decaying by [[electron capture]] with a half-life of {{val|270.95|u=days}}ays. The least stable is {{SimpleNuclide|Germanium|60}}, with a half-life of {{val|30|ul=ms}}. While most of germanium's radioisotopes decay by [[beta decay]], {{SimpleNuclide|Germanium|61}} and {{SimpleNuclide|Germanium|64}} decay by [[Positron emission|{{SubatomicParticle|beta+}}]] delayed [[proton emission]].<ref name="nubase" /> {{SimpleNuclide|Germanium|84}} through {{SimpleNuclide|Germanium|87}} isotopes also exhibit minor [[Beta decay|{{SubatomicParticle|beta-}}]] delayed [[neutron emission]] decay paths.<ref name="nubase" />