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Antimony
51
Tellurium
52
Iodine
53
52

Te

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Lr

Tellurium

Pronounced

te-LOOR-i-em

Tellurium (Te) is a silver-white semi metal that has the atomic number 52 in the periodic table. It is located in Group 16 of the periodic table. It has the symbol Te.

Tellurium is sometimes found free in nature but is most commonly bonded to Gold and Silver in ores. Tellurium is used as an alloy with Copper and steel to improve its malleability. Tellurium is also used in the electronics industry for making semiconductors and in solar panel production. Tellurium is very toxic and known to cause development issues in embryos. In 1782 Baron Franz Muller von Reichenstein purified what he thought to be Antimony but upon examination in 1798 by Martin Klaproth he isolated Tellurium. It is located in Group 16 as a metal. It has a melting point of 450°c and a boiling point of 990°c.

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FAQ's

What is the Melting Point for Tellurium?

Tellurium has a Melting Point of 449.8°C, meaning at 449.8°C it will turn to a liquid.

What is the Boiling Point for Tellurium?

Tellurium has a Boiling Point of 989.9°C, meaning at 989.9°C it will turn to a Gas.

What is the Electronegativity of Tellurium?

Tellurium's Electronegativty is 2.1. Electronegativity is a measure of how strongly atoms attract bonding electrons to themselves.

Discovered by

Franz Müller von Reichenstein

Discovery date

1782

What is the Heat of Vaporization of Tellurium?

Tellurium has a Heat of Vaporization of 52.55 kJ/mol.

Uses

Used to improve the machining quality of copper and stainless steel products and to color glass and ceramics. Also in thermoelectric devices. Some is used in the rubber industry and it is a basic ingredient in manufacturing blasting caps.

Sources

Obtained as a by-product of copper and lead refining.

About the author

Nathan M

Author

Nathan has a degree in BSc Biomedical Chemistry at Warwick University and a degree in PGCE Science at Wolverhampton University, UK. Nathan's subject matter ranges from general chemistry and organic chemistry. Nathan also created the curriculum on Breaking Atom in the course page.

Citation

"Tellurium" Published on Dec 30, 2019. https://breakingatom.com/elements/tellurium
52
Protons
52
Electrons
76
Neutrons

Te

Element Symbol
Te
Atomic Weight
127.6
Atomic Number
52
State
Solid
Melting Point
Unknown
449.8
°C
Boiling Point
989.9
Unknown
°C
Heat of Vaporization
52.55
Unknown
kJ/mol
Crystal Structure
Hexagonal
Thermoconductivity
0.0235
Unknown
W/cmK
Shells
2,8,18,18,6
Group
Metalloid
Period
5
Block
P Block
Orbitals
[Kr] 4d10 5s2 5p4
Coefficient of Thermal Expansion
18.8 10^-6 K^-1
Covalent Radius
1.36 Å
Density at 293K
6.24 g/cm³
Electrical Conductivity
2.0e-6 10^6/cm ohm
First Ionization Potential
9.0096 V
Second Ionization Potential
18.60 V
Third Ionization Potential
27.96 V
Ionic Radius
.97 (+4) Å
Oxydation States
'-2,(4),6
Lattice Parameter
4.4568 Å
Lattice Parameter 2
--
Lattice Parameter 3
--
Orbital configuration
2,8,18,18,6

Download the Periodic Table

The periodic table in multiple colors, each color represents a periodic group

Explore Other Metalloids

121.76
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Sb

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28.085
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Si

Silicon
74.922
33

As

Arsenic
10.811
5

B

Boron
72.63
32

Ge

Germanium
Metalloids are the chemical elements with the properties intermediate between those of typical metals and nonmetals. There is neither standard definition of a metalloid nor agreement on elements classified as such.
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