WebElements Periodic Table of the Elements | Tellurium

Chemical reactions of the elements

Reaction of tellurium with air

Tellurium burns in air to form the dioxide tellurium(IV) oxide, TeO₂.

Te(s) + 2O₂(g) → TeO₂(s)

Reaction of tellurium with water

Tellurium does not react with water under normal conditions.

Reaction of tellurium with the halogens

Under carefully controlled conditions in a sealed tube, tellurium reacts with chlorine to form Te₃Cl₂.

Tellurium reacts with fluorine, F₂, and burns to form the hexafluoride tellurium(VI) fluoride.

Te₈(s) + 24F₂(g) → 8TeF₆(l) [orange]

Carefully done, tellurium reacts with fluorine, F₂, mixed with nitrogen gas at 0°C to form the tetrafluoride tellurium(IV) fluoride. Tellurium also reacts under controlled conditions with the other halogens chlorine, Cl₂, bromine, Br₂, and iodine, I₂, to form the respective tetrahalides tellurium(IV) chlrode, tellurium(IV) bromide, and tellurium(IV) iodide (requires heating).

Te₈(s) + 16F₂(g) → 8TeF₄(s) []

Te₈(s) + 16Cl₂(g) → 8TeCl₄(s) []

Te₈(s) + 16Br₂(g) → 8TeBr₄(s) [red]

Te₈(s) + 16I₂(g) → 8TeI₄(s) []

Reaction of tellurium with acids

Tellurium does not react with dilute non-oxidizing acids.

Reaction of tellurium with bases

Tellurium does not react with dilute bases under normal conditions.

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As	Se	Br
Sb	Te	I
Bi	Po	At

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Tellurium
- Essential data: names, symbol, atomic number, and atomic weight; block, period, and group in periodic table; description; standard state; registry number; and isolation
- History: meaning of name; discovery; and history of the element
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Tellurium around us
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Tellurium compounds
- Compounds: halides, oxides, sulfides, hydrides, and complexes; lattice energies; and reduction potentials
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Element properties
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- Reactions of tellurium: reactions of tellurium with air; water; halogens; acids; and bases
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Nuclear properties
- Isotopes: isotope abundances; radioactive isotopes; isotope masses; nuclear spins; and nuclear magnetic moment
- NMR properties: frequencies; isotopes; magnetogyric ratios; quadrupole moments; receptivities; and relative sensitivities

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