Tellurium

Atomic Number: 52
Symbol: Te
Atomic Mass: 127.60 u
Number of Neutrons: 76
Melting Point: 449.5°C
Boiling Point: 987.8°C
Electrons per shell: 2.8.18.18.6
Electron configuration: [Kr] 4d¹⁰ 5s² 5p⁴

---

Tellurium is the 52nd element in the periodic table and it is a metalliod. It is a brittle, mildly toxic, rare, silvery-white element. It is quite rare as it is about 0.001 parts per million of the earth's crust. This element is in the chalcogens group including selenium and sulfur which tellurium is chemically related to. Tellurium is used in steel alloys and in solar cell technology. This element is mined from the earth's crust in ores such as sylvanite (AgAuTe₄), calaverite (AuTe₂) and krennerite (AuTe₂). Most of the tellurium mined is a byproduct of mining and refining copper. Tellurium was discovered by Martin Heinrich Klaproth in 1782. Martin Heinrich Klaproth was a German chemist. This element got it's name from the Latin tellus meaning "earth".

Previous Element  Next Element