Symbol: Te
Atomic number: 52
Category: metalloids
Group: 16
Period: 5
Block: p
Atomic weight: 127.60 g/mol
Electrons per shell: 2, 8, 18, 18, 6
CAS number: 13494-80-9
Phase: solid
Density: 6.24 kg/dm3 (near room temperature)
Melting point: 722.66 K (449.51 °C, 841.12 °F)
Boiling point: 1261 K (988 °C, 1810 °F)
Crystal structure: hexagonal
Oxidation states: 2, 4, 6
Electronegativity: 2.1 (Pauling scale)
Name's origin: Tellus
Name's meaning: the Latin name for Earth
Facts:
- is a brittle silver-white metalloid which looks like tin
- is primarily used in alloys and as a semiconductor
- is extremely rare, one of the nine rarest metallic elements on Earth
- when added to stainless steel and copper it makes these metals more workable
- gives a greenish-blue flame when burned in normal air and forms tellurium dioxide as a result
- tellurium and tellurium compounds are considered to be mildly toxic and need to be handled with care, although acute poisoning is rare
- was used as a chemical bonder in the making of the outer shell of the first atom bomb