Nitridogermanate information

The nitridogermanates are chemical compounds containing germanium atoms bound to nitrogen. The simplest anion is GeN₄⁸⁻, but these are often condensed, with the elimination of nitrogen.

Nitridogermanates can form quite a few structures. Germanium can be in three different oxidation states. In the +2 oxidation state there is [Ge^IIN₂]⁴⁻ which has a boomerang shape. The most common is the +4 state with [Ge^IVN₃]⁵⁻ is a planar three pointed star, and [Ge^IVN₄]⁸⁻ as tetrahedra. Condensation of the tetrahedra yields [Ge₂ ^IVN₆]¹⁰⁻. The +3 state is rare, and represented by [Ge^III ₂N₆]¹²⁻ with a covalent bond between the two germanium atoms.^[1] A few compounds also contain germanium in negative oxidation states −2 and −4 and so can be considered germanides as well.