Periodic Table of Elements

Element Tellurium - Te

Comprehensive data on the chemical element Tellurium is provided on this page; including scores of properties, element names in many languages, most known nuclides of Tellurium. Common chemical compounds are also provided for many elements. In addition technical terms are linked to their definitions and the menu contains links to related articles that are a great aid in one's studies.

Tellurium Menu

Overview of Tellurium

Tellurium's Name in Other Languages

  • Latin: Tellurium
  • Czech: Tellur
  • Croatian: Telurij
  • French: Tellure
  • German: Tellur - r
  • Italian: Tellurio
  • Norwegian: Tellur
  • Portuguese: Telúrio
  • Russian: Теллур
  • Spanish: Teluro
  • Swedish: Tellur

Atomic Structure of Tellurium

Chemical Properties of Tellurium

Physical Properties of Tellurium

  • Atomic Mass Average: 127.6
  • Boiling Point: 1261K 988°C 1810°F
  • Coefficient of lineal thermal expansion/K-1: 16.75E-6
  • Conductivity
    Electrical: 2.0E-6 106/cm Ω
    Thermal: 0.0235 W/cmk
  • Density: 6.24g/cc @ 300K
  • Description:
    Silvery white metal-looking non-metal that is usually obtained as a dark grey powder. It is unaffected by water and HCl, but burns in air or oxygen and dissolves in HNO3.
  • Elastic Modulus:
    • Bulk: 65/GPa
    • Rigidity: 16.7/GPa
    • Youngs: 47.1/GPa
  • Enthalpy of Atomization: 190.4 kJ/mole @ 25°C
  • Enthalpy of Fusion: 17.49 kJ/mole
  • Enthalpy of Vaporization: 50.6 kJ/mole
  • Flammablity Class: Combustible Solid
  • Freezing Point: see melting point
  • Hardness Scale
    • Brinell: 180 MN m-2
    • Mohs: 2.25
  • Heat of Vaporization: 52.55kJ/mol
  • Melting Point: 722.8K 449.65°C 841.37°F
  • Molar Volume: 20.42 cm3/mole
  • Optical Reflectivity: 50%
  • Optical Refractive Index: 1.000991
  • Physical State (at 20°C & 1atm): Solid
  • Specific Heat: 0.2J/gK
  • Vapor Pressure = 23.1Pa@449.65°C

Regulatory / Health

  • CAS Number
    • 13494-80-9
  • RTECS: WY2625000
  • OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL)
  • OSHA PEL Vacated 1989
  • NIOSH Recommended Exposure Limit (REL)
  • Routes of Exposure: Inhalation; Ingestion; Skin and/or eye contact
  • Target Organs: Skin, central nervous system, blood
  • Levels In Humans:
    Note: this data represents naturally occuring levels of elements in the typical human, it DOES NOT represent recommended daily allowances.
    • Blood/mg dm-3: 0.0055
    • Bone/p.p.m: n/a
    • Liver/p.p.m: 0.014
    • Muscle/p.p.m: 0.017
    • Daily Dietary Intake: 0.6 mg
    • Total Mass In Avg. 70kg human: 0.7 mg

Who / Where / When / How

  • Discoverer: Baron Franz Müller von Reichenstein
  • Discovery Location: Sibiu Romania
  • Discovery Year: 1783
  • Name Origin:
    Greek: tellus (the Earth).
  • Abundance of Tellurium:
    • Earth's Crust/p.p.m.: 0.005
    • Seawater/p.p.m.:
      • Atlantic Suface: 1.6E-07
      • Atlantic Deep: 7E-08
      • Pacific Surface: 1.9E-07
      • Pacific Deep: 1.7E-07
    • Atmosphere/p.p.m.: N/A
    • Sun (Relative to H=1E12): N/A
  • Sources of Tellurium:
    Obtained as a by-product of copper and lead refining. Annual world production is around 215 tons.
  • Uses of Tellurium:
    Used to improve the machining quality of metal products and to color glass and ceramics. Also used in thermoelectric devices, vulcanization of rubber, percussion caps, battery plate protectors and electrical resistors.
  • Additional Notes:

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References

A list of reference sources used to compile the data provided on our periodic table of elements can be found on the main periodic table page.

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