Tellurium

Tellurium, chemical element, symbol Te; for physical constants see Periodic Table. Tellurium was discovered by Franz von Reichenstein in 1782. It occurs in nature as metallic tellurides. It is obtained commercially from the anode mud obtained in the electrolytic refining of copper. Tellurium is a silvery-white, brittle, reactive metalloid. It can be amorphous or crystalline and is a p-type semiconductor. Tellurium and its compounds are used in alloys with copper, steel, and lead, blasting caps, ceramics, and thermoelectric devices. Tellurium and its compounds are probably toxic.