Te

    Tellurium

    Metalloid

    Atomic Number: 52 • Atomic Mass: 127.6000 u • Period: 5 • Group: 16

    Electron Configuration: 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 4s² 3d¹⁰ 4p⁶ 5s² 4d¹⁰ 5p⁴
    Phase: Solid
    Electronegativity: 2.1

    Physical & Chemical Properties

    Physical Properties

    • Silvery-white, brittle crystalline solid
    • Semiconductor with properties between metals and non-metals
    • Rarely occurs in native form
    • Forms colorless, transparent crystals
    • Burns with blue-green flame
    Melting Point

    722.66 K (449.51 °C, 841.12 °F)

    Boiling Point

    1261 K (987.85 °C, 1810.13 °F)

    Density

    6.232 g/cm³

    Electronegativity

    2.1 (Pauling scale)

    Chemical Properties

    • Main oxidation states are -2, +4, and +6
    • Forms tellurides with many metals
    • Combines with hydrogen to form hydrogen telluride (H₂Te)
    • Can form complex oxides and halides
    • Chemically similar to selenium and sulfur

    Electron Configuration

    1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 4s² 3d¹⁰ 4p⁶ 5s² 4d¹⁰ 5p⁴

    Electron configuration describes how electrons are distributed in atomic orbitals, showing how they are arranged in energy levels and subshells.