52. Tellurium

Name: Tellurium
Symbol: Te
Atomic Number: 52
Atomic Mass: 127.6 amu
Melting Point: 449.5 °C (722.65 °K, 841.1 °F)
Boiling Point: 989.8 °C (1262.95 °K, 1813.64 °F)
Number of Protons/Electrons: 52
Number of Neutrons: 76
Classification: Metalloid
Crystal Structure: Hexagonal
Density(293 K): 6.24 g/cm3
Color: silverish

Crystalline tellurium has a silvery-white appearance, and exhibits a metallic lustre when pure (see above). It is brittle and easily pulverised. Tellurium is a p-type semiconductor, and shows varying conductivity with crystal alignment. Its conductivity increases slightly with exposure to light. It can be doped with silver, copper, gold, tin, or other elements.

Tellurium (Latin tellus meaning "earth") was discovered in 1782 by Franz-Joseph Muller von Reichenstein in Romania. In 1798 it was named by Martin Heinrich Klaproth who earlier isolated it.

The 1960s brought growth in thermoelectric applications for tellurium, as well as its use in free-machining steel, which became the dominant use.

Humans exposed to as little as 0.01 mg/m3 or less in air develop "tellurium breath", which has a garlic-like odor. Tellurium and tellurium compounds should be considered to be toxic and need to be handled with care.

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Non-metals H, C, N, O, P, S, Se
Halogens F, Cl, Br, I, At
Alkali metals Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, Fr
Alkaline Earth Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Ra
Transition metals Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Y, Zr, Nb, Mo, Tc, Ru, Rh, Pd, Ag, Cd, Hf, Ta, W, Re, Os, Ir, Pt, Au, Hg, Rf, Db, Sg, Bh, Hs, Mt, Ds, Rg, Uub
Metalloids B, Si, Ge, As, Sb, Te, Po
Other metals Al, Ga, In, Sn, Tl, Pb, Bi
Rare Earth Lu, Lr, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Pm, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Ac, Th, Pa, U, Np, Pu, Am, Cm, Bk, Cf, Es, Fm, Md, No
Noble gases He, Ne, Ar, Kr, Xe, Rn

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