Final answer:
Germanium (Ge) has four valence electrons, as it belongs to group 14 of the periodic table (option b).
Step-by-step explanation:
Germanium (Ge) has four valence electrons. This can be predicted from its position on the periodic table, being in group 14, similar to carbon (C). Like other elements in this group, such as silicon (Si), germanium’s valence electrons are those in the outermost electron shell that are used for chemical bondng. Since germanium is in the fourth group of the periodic table, it has four electrons in its outermost shell, which are its valence electrons.
Hence, the answer is option b.