Compounds

&

Uses

 

o   Common Compounds: see table below for a list of fluorides, chlorides, bromides, iodides, and oxides of tellurium. Commercial compounds include alloys such as: Tellurium-Manganese Alloy, Bismuth-Tellurium Alloy, and Copper-Tellurium Alloy. Sylvanite (AgAuTe4), calaverite (AuTe2) and krennerite (AuTe2) are also common compounds containing tellurium and are often found in mines.

 

Compound Formula

Compound Name

 

TeF4

tellurium (IV) fluoride

TeF6

tellurium (VI) fluoride

Te2Cl

tellurium chloride

TeCl2

tellurium (II) chloride

Te3Cl2

tellurium chloride

[TeCl4]4

tellurium (IV) chloride

Te2Br

tellurium bromide

TeBr2

tellurium (II) bromide

[TeBr4]4

tellurium (IV) bromide

TeI

tellurium (I) iodide

Te2I

tellurium iodide

Te4I4

tellurium (I) iodide

[TeI4]4

tellurium (IV) iodide

TeO

tellurium (II) oxide

TeO2

tellurium (IV) oxide

TeO3

tellurium (VI) oxide

Na2Te

sodium telluride

Al2Te3

aluminum telluride

H2Te

tellurium (II) hydride

air/O2

tellurium dioxide

HNO3

tellurous acid (H2TeO3)

 

 

o   Uses:

§     Tellurium is one of the basic ingredient in blasting caps.

§     Tellurium is added to cast iron to keep it chilled.

§     Tellurium alloys are added to copper and stainless steel to improve its usability in machinery.

·    Examples: Tellurium-Manganese Alloys, Bismuth-Tellurium Alloys, Copper-Tellurium Alloys

§   Compounds of tellurium are used as colorings for ceramics, glass, enamel, and other types of art.

§   Tellurium is added to lead to improve strength and slow corrosion from sulfuric acid.

·    Example: Tellurium-Lead alloy

§     Tellurium, in the future, potentially may be used in solar panels.

·    Example: Cadmium Telluride (CdTe)

§       Thermoelectric devices.

·    Example: Bismuth Telluride - Bi2Te3