Tellurium (Te)
Element 52 · metalloid · group 16, period 5
Tellurium is element 52, a metalloid in group 16 and period 5. Its electron configuration is [Kr] 4d10 5s2 5p4. That leaves 6 valence electrons in the outer shell, with the shells filling 2, 8, 18, 18, 6. It is 2 electrons short of a full octet, so it gains them and carries a charge of -2, +4, +6.
- 52 protons
- 6 valence e−
- -2, +4, +6
- p-block
Properties
| Atomic number | 52 |
|---|---|
| Symbol | Te |
| Standard atomic weight | 127.6 u |
| Group | 16 |
| Period | 5 |
| Block | p-block |
| Category | metalloid |
| Electron configuration | 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d10 4s2 4p6 4d10 5s2 5p4 |
| Noble-gas notation | [Kr] 4d10 5s2 5p4 |
| Electrons per shell | 2, 8, 18, 18, 6 |
| Valence electrons | 6 |
| Common ionic charge | -2, +4, +6 |
| Electronegativity (Pauling) | 2.1 |
| Protons / electrons | 52 / 52 |
Electron configuration of tellurium
Orbitals fill from the lowest energy upward. Writing that out for tellurium gives 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d10 4s2 4p6 4d10 5s2 5p4, which is 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d10 4s2 4p6 4d10 5s2 5p4 in plain text.
Everything up to Kr is the same as in that noble gas, so it is usually abbreviated to [Kr] 4d10 5s2 5p4. The part outside the bracket is what does the chemistry.
| Subshell | Electrons | Capacity |
|---|---|---|
| 1s | 2 | 2 |
| 2s | 2 | 2 |
| 2p | 6 | 6 |
| 3s | 2 | 2 |
| 3p | 6 | 6 |
| 3d | 10 | 10 |
| 4s | 2 | 2 |
| 4p | 6 | 6 |
| 4d | 10 | 10 |
| 5s | 2 | 2 |
| 5p | 4 | 6 |
Tellurium ion charge
Tellurium commonly forms ions with a charge of -2, +4, +6.
It has 6 valence electrons, so it is 2 short of a full octet and 6 above an empty outer shell. An atom takes whichever route is shorter, which is why the charge comes out as it does.
Common questions
How many valence electrons does tellurium have?
Tellurium has 6 valence electrons. For a main-group element the count is the group number minus 10, and tellurium is in group 16.
What is the electron configuration of tellurium?
1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d10 4s2 4p6 4d10 5s2 5p4, or [Kr] 4d10 5s2 5p4 written from the previous noble gas. Orbitals fill lowest energy first.
What is the charge of tellurium?
Tellurium commonly forms ions with a charge of -2, +4, +6. With 6 valence electrons it is 2 short of an octet and 6 above an empty shell, so it takes whichever route is shorter.
How many protons, electrons and neutrons does tellurium have?
A neutral tellurium atom has 52 protons and 52 electrons. Its standard atomic weight is 127.6, so the most common isotope has about 76 neutrons.
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