Tellurium (Te) – element 52
Tellurium is a chemical element with the symbol Te and atomic number 52. It is a metalloid in group 16 (chalcogens), period 5 of the periodic table (p-block), and is a solid at room temperature.
Tellurium (Te) has atomic number 52, atomic mass 127.6 u and electron configuration [Kr] 4d10 5s2 5p4.
Tellurium facts
| Symbol | Te |
|---|---|
| Atomic number | 52 |
| Atomic mass | 127.6 u (g/mol) |
| Category | metalloid |
| Group | group 16 (chalcogens) |
| Period | 5 |
| Block | p-block |
| Phase at 20 °C | Solid |
| Electron configuration | 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 4s2 3d10 4p6 5s2 4d10 5p4 |
| Noble-gas notation | [Kr] 4d10 5s2 5p4 |
| Electrons per shell | 2, 8, 18, 18, 6 |
| Valence electrons | 6 |
Bohr model and shells
Tellurium has 52 electrons in 5 shells: 2, 8, 18, 18, 6. Full configuration and noble-gas notation are in the table; work out any element or ion with the electron configuration calculator.
Physical and atomic properties
| Melting point | 722.66 K (449.5 °C) |
|---|---|
| Boiling point | 1261 K (987.9 °C) |
| Density | 6.24 g/cm³ |
| Electronegativity (Pauling) | 2.1 |
| Electron affinity | 190.161 kJ/mol |
| Ionization energies | 869.3, 1790, 2698 kJ/mol (1st, 2nd, 3rd) |
| Molar heat capacity | 25.73 J/(mol·K) |
| Discovered by | Franz-Joseph Müller von Reichenstein |
Use the atomic mass in the molar mass calculator for any formula containing Te.
Position in the periodic table
Tap any element to open its page.
Frequently asked questions
What is the atomic mass of tellurium?
The atomic mass of tellurium is 127.6 u, so one mole of tellurium atoms weighs 127.6 g.
What is the electron configuration of tellurium?
Tellurium has 52 electrons: 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 4s² 3d¹⁰ 4p⁶ 5s² 4d¹⁰ 5p⁴, or [Kr] 4d¹⁰ 5s² 5p⁴ in noble-gas notation. Electrons per shell: 2, 8, 18, 18, 6.
How many valence electrons does tellurium have?
Tellurium has 6 valence electrons (group 16).
Is tellurium a metal?
Tellurium is a metalloid: it has properties between metals and nonmetals.
Where is tellurium on the periodic table?
Tellurium is in group 16 (chalcogens), period 5, in the p-block.
Data: Periodic-Table-JSON (CC BY-SA 3.0); standard atomic weights from IUPAC (abridged). Values in brackets are the mass number of the longest-lived isotope.