Difference between revisions of "Tellurium"
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Wear appropiate protection when handling it or it's compounds. Cadmium telluride is highly toxic. | Wear appropiate protection when handling it or it's compounds. Cadmium telluride is highly toxic. | ||
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Revision as of 12:01, 4 August 2015
Tellurium is the element with symbol Te and atomic number 52.
Chemical Properties
It is usually found in -2, +2, +4 and +6 oxidation states. It has chemical properties similar to Selenium, being dissolved by Sulphuric and Nitric acid and potassium hydroxide solutions but not in water. It corrodes copper, iron and stainless steel when it's molten. It reacts with oxygen in air, hydrogen and with halogens. It burns with a blueish grey flame. Although being midly toxic, it is infamous for making you smell really bad so don´t handle it without correct safety equipment.
Physical Properties
It is a solid, whitish-silvery, crystalline element which has a nice, metallic luster. It's a brittle and easily powderized metalloid. It's a good semiconductor, and conductivity increases slightly when exposed to light. It melts at 450 Cº and boils at almost 1000 Cº.
Availability
Tellurium is one of the rarest stable elements on Earth's crust. Applications are scarce, most commonly used in electronics and solar panels. Prices are high and it has few uses for home chemists, in adittion to collecting elements.
Safety
Wear appropiate protection when handling it or it's compounds. Cadmium telluride is highly toxic.
