Germanium (Ge) is an element in Group 14 of the periodic table. Group 14 elements are also known as the carbon group. The valence shell of an element is the outermost shell of electrons. For germanium, this is the fourth shell.

Germanium has four valence electrons in the fourth shell. This can be seen from its electron configuration, which is [Ar] 3d10 4s2 4p2. The fourth shell is the outermost shell, and it contains two s electrons and two p electrons. These four electrons are the valence electrons of germanium.