Te
Tellurium
Atomic number: 52Mass: 127.6 uCategory: Metalloid
About Tellurium
Tellurium is a brittle, mildly toxic, rare, silver-white metalloid. It is far more common in the Universe than on Earth. It is used in solar cells and as a colouring agent in glass and ceramics.
Properties
Period
5
Group
16
Block
P
Category
Metalloid
Electronegativity
2.10 (Pauling)
Ionization Energy
869.3 kJ/mol
Melting Point
723 K (450°C)
Boiling Point
1261 K (988°C)
Density
6.24 g/cm³
Oxidation States
-2, +2, +4, +6
Electron Configuration
1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 3d¹⁰ 4s² 4p⁶ 4d¹⁰ 5s² 5p⁴
[Kr] 4d¹⁰ 5s² 5p⁴
Shell 1:2e⁻
Shell 2:8e⁻
Shell 3:18e⁻
Shell 4:18e⁻
Shell 5:6e⁻
Real-World Uses
Solar cells (CdTe)
Thermoelectric devices
Alloys
Rewritable DVDs
Vulcanizing rubber
Fun Fact
Even tiny amounts of tellurium ingested will make your breath and body smell of garlic for weeks — it's nearly impossible to get rid of!