Two thermoanalytical methods for the determination of GeO2 on germanium powders

Two thermoanalytical methods have been developed for determining GeO₂ on the surface of germanium. Possible errors and attainable accuracies are discussed. Both methods give the same results within the limits of error. The applicability of the determination is demonstrated in two ways:

1. in connection with the growth of the oxide layer in air,
2. in connection with the dissolution of the oxide layer in water.

The oxidation at room temperature proceeds at a practically constant velocity; the equilibrium thickness of the oxide layer on crystalline Ge powder in water proved to be about 5 Å.