Te
Tellurium is a rare metalloid used in solar panels and thermoelectric devices.
Physical Properties
| Atomic Mass | 127.6 u |
| Density | 6.232 g/cm³ |
| Melting Point | 722.66 K |
| Boiling Point | 1261.0 K |
| Appearance | Silvery-white crystalline |
| State at Room Temp | Solid |
Chemical Properties
| Electronegativity | 2.1 (Pauling) |
| 1st Ionization Energy | 869.3 kJ/mol |
| Electron Affinity | 190.2 kJ/mol |
| Oxidation States | -2, +2, +4, +6 |
Atomic Properties
| Electron Configuration | [Kr] 4d10 5s2 5p4 |
| Atomic Radius | 123.0 pm |
| Covalent Radius | 138.0 pm |
| Van der Waals Radius | 206.0 pm |
Discovery
| Discovered By | Franz-Joseph Muller von Reichenstein |
| Discovery Year | 1783 |
| Location | Sibiu, Romania |
| Named After | Latin 'tellus' meaning Earth |
About Tellurium
Tellurium is a brittle, mildly toxic, silvery-white metalloid. It is one of the rarest stable solid elements. Its conductivity increases with light exposure. Even tiny exposure causes intense garlic-like body odor.
Uses & Applications
Solar panels (CdTe), thermoelectric devices, rubber vulcanization, and semiconductor alloys.
Fun Fact
Exposure to even tiny amounts of tellurium gives a person an intense garlic-like body odor that can persist for weeks.
Isotopes
| Mass Number | Abundance | Half-Life | Stable |
| 126 | 0.1884% | - | Yes |
| 128 | 0.3174% | - | Yes |
| 130 | 0.3408% | - | Yes |
Electron Configuration
[Kr] 4d10 5s2 5p4