Tellurium
Tellurium is the element with symbol Te and atomic number 52.
Contents
Properties
Chemical
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
Tellurium is a whitish-silvery solid, 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 ºC and boils at almost 1000 ºC.
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.
Production
Tellurium can be prepared by reducing tellurium compounds.
Projects
- Make tellurium dioxide
- Make sodium tellurite
Handling
Safety
Wear appropriate protection when handling it or it's compounds. Certain compounds such as cadmium telluride are highly toxic.
Ingested small amounts of tellurium or its compounds are metabolized to dimethyl telluride, causing a foul garlic-like odor named "tellurium breath".
Storage
In closed containers.
Disposal
Best to try to recycle it.
