Tellurium
Tellurium (碲, symbol Te) is chemical element number 52, a Metalloid in period 5, group 16 of the periodic table, with a standard atomic weight of about 127.6. Brittle silvery-white metalloid. Used in solar panels and as a steel additive.
Properties
| Atomic number | 52 |
|---|---|
| Symbol | Te |
| Atomic mass | 127.6 u |
| Category | Metalloid |
| Period | 5 |
| Group | 16 |
| Electron configuration | [Kr] 4d¹⁰ 5s² 5p⁴ |
| Electronegativity | 2.1 |
| Covalent radius | 138 pm |
| Density | 6.232 g/cm³ |
| Melting point | 722.66 K |
| Boiling point | 1261 K |
| Discovery | Franz-Joseph Müller, 1782 |
Overview
Brittle silvery-white metalloid. Used in solar panels and as a steel additive. Tellurium (symbol Te) is chemical element number 52, sitting in period 5, group 16 of the periodic table and classed as a Metalloid. As a metalloid it shares properties of both metals and nonmetals and is a mainstay of semiconductor materials.
With 6 electrons in its outermost shell, Tellurium bonds accordingly; full configuration [Kr] 4d¹⁰ 5s² 5p⁴, electronegativity 2.1. At room temperature it is normally a solid; it melts near 722.66 K (449.5 °C), boils near 1261 K (987.9 °C), has a density around 6.232 g/cm³.
Common applications range across Electronics / Semiconductors and Structural / Alloys. It is regarded as a moderate-hazard element, so handle it with appropriate care. It was first described by Franz-Joseph Müller in 1782. See more trends in the visualization center.
Electron shells
Electrons per shell: 2 · 8 · 18 · 18 · 6
Main uses
- Electronics / Semiconductors
- Structural / Alloys
Hazard
Compounds containing Tellurium
No compounds in this knowledge base contain Tellurium yet.
Data sources
Atomic mass uses IUPAC (CIAAW) standard atomic weights; the covalent radius is from Cordero et al. (2008). Verify on the RSC Periodic Table, PubChem and Wikipedia. Educational reference only.