tellurium
Let an agent explain tellurium as an element and material, relay its uses, supply and hazards from reference and regulatory sources, and separate it from selenium and from its compounds.
Research draft, second pass
A second pass drafted this model: the structure a model of this thing needs, and what is known about it in the world. The line under this one says how the second half was obtained - researched against sources, or recalled without web access, in which case nothing here was read anywhere and every claim is a lead to verify. Unreviewed either way.
written by Claude from model knowledge without web access - no source was read, every claim is a lead to verify
Researched by: Claude
Purpose and description
Let an agent explain tellurium as an element and material, relay its uses, supply and hazards from reference and regulatory sources, and separate it from selenium and from its compounds.
A brittle, silvery-white metalloid, chemical element 52, in group 16 with sulfur and selenium; rare in the crust and obtained mainly as a by-product of copper refining, it is used in cadmium telluride solar cells, thermoelectric devices, steel and copper alloys, rubber vulcanisation and rewritable optical media.
What it is for: Solar cells, thermoelectrics, alloys and other industrial uses.
It can be explain properties and isotopes; explain uses and supply; relay safety and handling information; distinguish it from selenium and compounds.
Distinguishing features
Metalloid of group 16
Obtained as a by-product of copper refining
Key material for cadmium telluride photovoltaics
Exposure causes garlic-like breath odour
What it looks like
Silvery-white, brittle crystalline solid, or grey-brown powder in amorphous form.
Physical character
atomic number: 52
melting point: about 450 degrees C
density: about 6.2 g per cubic centimetre
crustal abundance: about 1 part per billion - very rare
How it is recognised
Element 52, group 16 metalloid
Brittle silvery crystals
Selenium is lighter and red or grey; tellurides are compounds
Related models
is a kind of - the classification
is related to - the neighbouring group 16 element
is used in - cadmium telluride photovoltaics
is obtained from - anode slimes
In practice
Families and kinds
crystalline and amorphous tellurium
tellurium isotopes, including long-lived tellurium-128 and 130
tellurides such as cadmium telluride and bismuth telluride
tellurium in alloys and glass
Identifiers
chemical symbol Te
CAS number 13494-80-9
Standards and regulation
Occupational exposure limits for tellurium and compounds
Chemical classification and labelling rules
Critical raw material assessments in the EU and elsewhere
Failure modes and hazards
Toxicity of compounds and garlic breath from low exposure
Supply constraints as a by-product metal
Confusion with selenium in analysis
Also called
+16
Where this came from
wikidata · CC0 1.0
Also registered as vr.tr.tellurium
Drafted structure
Bundle to layer to finding to question, as the second pass will find it: 4 bundles · 8 layers · 8 findings · 16 questions.
Element What tellurium is.
Chemistry.
Properties
Properties.
Properties
Properties.
- What are the physical and chemical properties and isotopes of tellurium? definition
- Is the question about the element, a telluride compound or selenium? boundary
Occurrence
Occurrence and production.
Occurrence
Occurrence.
- Where does tellurium occur, and how is it produced from copper refining? provenance
- Which entry fits copper refining? action
Use Applications.
Uses.
Applications
Uses.
Applications
Applications.
- How is tellurium used in solar cells, thermoelectrics, alloys and other products? provenance
- Which entry fits cadmium telluride? action
Supply
Supply and criticality.
Supply
Supply.
- What are production volumes, producers and criticality assessments, with sources? measurement
- Which sources and years are cited? provenance
Safety Handling and health.
Safety.
Handling
Handling.
Handling
Handling.
- What handling and exposure limits apply to tellurium and its compounds? provenance
- Is the question about a specific workplace, which needs its safety officer? boundary
Health
Health effects.
Health
Health.
- What health effects are documented, and what do authorities advise? provenance
- Is the user asking about their own exposure, which needs a clinician? boundary
Context History and study.
Context.
History
Discovery.
History
History.
- How was tellurium discovered and named? provenance
- Which references are standard? provenance
Research
Research.
Research
Research.
- What research involves tellurium, such as topological materials and recycling? provenance
- Which entry fits thermoelectric materials? action
What the second pass must settle
- Should isotopes and tellurides be separate entries?
- How should supply and criticality reports be linked?
- The registry entry has merged isotope aliases; should they be split off?