When naturally extracted or synthesized in laboratory, organic germanium has a distinct appearance when compared to the inorganic element germanium, a light-gray lustrous and hard mineral. Organic germanium is a crystalline, brittle white powder, which is totally soluble in water and retains its luster when kept at room temperature. Most organic germanium commercially available as a dietary supplement come in capsules or liquid form.
Organic germanium has antimicrobial activities, due to the presence of oxygen atoms in its molecule. While the element germanium has only a single atom, organic germanium has three atoms of oxygen linked to each germanium atom. This characteristic is associated with the use of organic germanium as an antioxidant in the prevention and treatment of cancer, but there is no conclusive scientific evidence to support the claim.
A molecule of organic germanium contains eight atoms of carbon, which represents 26.15 percent; 14 atoms of hydrogen, which makes 3.84 percent; two atoms of germanium, forming almost 40 percent of the molecule; and seven atoms of oxygen, which represent just over 30 percent of the total. The
molecular weight, an important property in the identification of chemical compounds, is 367.473 g/mol.
Although containing alleged health benefits that makes them commercially available, germanium supplements can be toxic to humans, reports the American Cancer Society. While organic germanium is less toxic than inorganic germanium, it can cause weight loss, decreased red blood cell numbers and kidney damage. However, naturally-occurring germanium found in small doses in foods is not associated with adverse effects.