Tellurium (Te) has atomic number 52 and is classified as a metalloid. It sits in Group 16, period 5 of the periodic table. Its practical relevance includes thermoelectric materials, cadmium-telluride solar cells, alloys and electronic materials.
ELEMENT DATA
Quick facts
#Atomic number52
AaSymbolTe Relative
◉Atomic mass127.60 State at room temperature Solid
⌘Group16
Position in the periodic table
Metalloids sit near the boundary between metals and nonmetals. Their intermediate electrical and chemical behavior makes several of them especially important in semiconductors, glass, ceramics and electronic materials.
Tellurium belongs to period 5. Its position helps explain recurring trends such as atomic size, bonding behavior, oxidation states and the way it interacts with neighboring elements.
Why Tellurium matters
In engineering and technology, tellurium is associated with thermoelectric materials, cadmium-telluride solar cells, alloys and electronic materials. The importance of the element may come from the pure element itself, from compounds containing it, or from its role as an alloying, electronic, catalytic or nuclear material.
Engineering and scientific context
Material behavior should never be inferred from the element name alone. Purity, isotope composition, crystal structure, processing history, temperature and the surrounding chemical environment can all change performance. In alloys and compounds, the contribution of tellurium depends on concentration and interaction with the other constituents.
Safety and handling
The hazards associated with Tellurium depend on its physical form, purity, compounds, process temperature and exposure route. Engineering decisions should use the applicable safety data sheet and project-specific risk assessment.
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