52127.6TeTellurium
Tellurium (Te) — element 52metalloid · group 16, period 5
Tellurium is a chemical element with the symbol Te and atomic number 52. It is a metalloid in group 16, period 5 of the periodic table (the p-block), with a standard atomic mass of 127.6 u. At room temperature (25 °C) tellurium is a solid.
💡 Known for: Used in cadmium telluride solar panels and rewritable optical discs.
# Tellurium properties
| Symbol | Te |
|---|---|
| Atomic number | 52 |
| Atomic mass | 127.6 u |
| Category | metalloid |
| Group | 16 |
| Period | 5 |
| Block | p-block |
| Electron configuration | [Kr] 4d¹⁰ 5s² 5p⁴ |
| Full configuration | 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 3d¹⁰ 4s² 4p⁶ 4d¹⁰ 5s² 5p⁴ |
| Electrons per shell | 2, 8, 18, 18, 6 |
| Protons / electrons | 52 / 52 |
| State at 25 °C | solid |
| Melting point | 722.66 K (449.5 °C, 841.1 °F) |
| Boiling point | 1261 K (987.9 °C, 1810.1 °F) |
| Density | 6.232 g/cm³ |
| Electronegativity (Pauling) | 2.1 |
| First ionization energy | 9.01 eV |
| Atomic radius | 123 pm |
| Discovered | 1783 |
# Electron configuration of tellurium
The electron configuration of tellurium is [Kr] 4d¹⁰ 5s² 5p⁴, written out in full as 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 3d¹⁰ 4s² 4p⁶ 4d¹⁰ 5s² 5p⁴. Its 52 electrons fill 5 shells as 2, 8, 18, 18, 6, so the outermost shell holds 6 electrons. As a group 16 element, tellurium has 6 valence electrons.
# Related elements
SbAntimonyprevious elementIIodinenext elementOOxygengroup 16SSulfurgroup 16SeSeleniumgroup 16PoPoloniumgroup 16LvLivermoriumgroup 16BBoronmetalloidSiSiliconmetalloidGeGermaniummetalloidAsArsenicmetalloid
# Tellurium FAQ
What is the atomic number of tellurium?
The atomic number of tellurium is 52: every tellurium atom has 52 protons in its nucleus. Its symbol is Te.
What is the atomic mass of tellurium?
The standard atomic mass of tellurium is 127.6 u.
What is the electron configuration of tellurium?
Tellurium's electron configuration is [Kr] 4d¹⁰ 5s² 5p⁴ (1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 3d¹⁰ 4s² 4p⁶ 4d¹⁰ 5s² 5p⁴), with 2, 8, 18, 18, 6 electrons per shell.
Is tellurium a metal?
No. Tellurium is a metalloid, with properties between those of metals and nonmetals.
What is the melting point of tellurium?
Tellurium melts at 722.66 K (449.5 °C, 841.1 °F) and boils at 1261 K (987.9 °C, 1810.1 °F).
What is tellurium used for / known for?
Used in cadmium telluride solar panels and rewritable optical discs.