Mendeleev
Periodic table · chemistry · physics
Element story

Tellurium

Atomic number 52 means that every Tellurium nucleus contains 52 protons. That proton count is the element's identity: change it and you no longer have Tellurium.

Start with the nucleus

Atomic number 52 means that every Tellurium nucleus contains 52 protons. That proton count is the element's identity: change it and you no longer have Tellurium.

Tellurium (Te) is chemical element 52. It belongs to the metalloids, and its reference state at room temperature is a solid. Those basic facts are a useful starting point for its chemistry and applications.

In practice, it turns up most often in solar cells, thermoelectric materials and alloys.

See the atom

Conceptual visual: electron shells are a learning aid, not a literal picture of quantum orbitals.

What this number means

Atomic number 52 means that every Tellurium nucleus contains 52 protons. That proton count is the element's identity: change it and you no longer have Tellurium.

Keep exploring

→ Tellurium · Atomic structure · Periodic trends

52TeTellurium
Tellurium · Te · Z = 52

Tellurium (Te) is chemical element 52. It belongs to the metalloids, and its reference state at room temperature is a solid. Those basic facts are a useful starting point for its chemistry and applications.

Understanding the element

Tellurium (Te) is chemical element 52. It belongs to the metalloids, and its reference state at room temperature is a solid. Those basic facts are a useful starting point for its chemistry and applications.

Where do we encounter it?

In practice, it turns up most often in solar cells, thermoelectric materials and alloys.

What its position in the table tells us

Tellurium sits in period 5, group 16 and the P block. That location is useful because neighbouring elements often share trends in valence electrons, oxidation states and bonding behaviour.