Te
Tellurium
MetalloidAtomic 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.