Germanous Oxide, GeO

Germanous Oxide, GeO, is obtained by heating the hydroxide in an inert atmosphere, or by heating the dioxide with metallic germanium or with magnesium. Biltz, however, could not bring about the reaction

GeO₂ + Ge = 2GeO.

Germanous oxide is a greyish black powder which is volatile and dissolves in hydrochloric acid, forming a solution of germanous chloride.