7 Astonishing Facts About Tellurium: You Never Knew You Needed
Science buffs, hello! Now let us talk of tellurium. Nope, not those ones you use to inform your friends you are intelligent but the actual stuff! Although Tellurium is nothing famous on the periodic table it still has some weirdness. Therefore, ready for a roller-coaster ride into this forgotten element’s world? Before you know it, you will be a pro at party trivia with regards to tellurium!
Credit: Tellurium crystals – Wikimedia Commons
What is Tellurium?
Tellurium is an element with atomic number 52 and symbol Te. It belongs to the chalcogen group, which sounds posh but actually means that it is closely related to sulfur and selenium. Think of tellurium as a less boring or mysterious sibling of these two elements.
Tellurium’s Place in the Periodic Party
So where does tellurium fit in periodic table conversations? It sits comfortably in group sixteen cuddling up nicely to its chalcogen mates. However, tellurium is not just any shy wallflower who attends this periodic table bash; it has some odd mannerisms that set it off from the rest. Did you also know that when approached too closely, tellurium can make one smell like garlic? Wow! This is surely topic for discussion!
Tellurium’s Superpowers
What is so special about tellurium? Well, it has a couple of tricks up its sleeves.
Is Tellurium a Metal?
Great question! It is an intermediate substance, hence, it possesses characteristics of both metals and non-metals. This is like the best of two worlds. It is a bit of a chameleon – shiny and conductive like a metal, but brittle and crumbly like a non-metal.
Tellurium Uses: More Than Meets the Eye
You may not have come across tellurium in your daily vocabulary but it plays more roles in your life than you think. These include:
– Electronics: Semiconductors are made with tellurium which generate the intelligence behind all your gadgets. Therefore take out this element from here and your smartphone could just be stuck at the time equal to or before 1999.
– Solar Panels: This element helps in making solar panels more effective. So when next you see one, acknowledge that tellurium helped save the world.
– Alloys: It is used to make stronger and more corrosion resistant alloys. A lot goes to this small element because without it your car engine would be very weak if not nothing at all.”
Why is Tellurium So Rare?
Tellurium isn’t just pretending to be unavailable; it is truly rare. Gold is more abundant than tellurium! One of the reasons for this is that it does not like to be alone in its pure form. It is commonly found as compounds with other elements, thereby making its extraction a bit tedious.
Where is Tellurium Found?
You won’t find any trace of tellurium lying around in your garden. This arises from most mining activities. It also occurs together with copper and gold ores. In other words, while searching for gold, you can accidentally come across tellurium too. Isn’t that a two-in-one thing!
Is Tellurium Toxic to Humans?
Now let’s talk seriously here: Is tellurium toxic? Well, yes or no for that matter. It’s harmless when present in tiny amounts but if exposed to plenty one can get a condition called ‘tellurium breath’ which doesn’t sound good at all (it smells like garlic). Therefore if you are intending to blow someone off their feet with great smelling breath don’t try and consume tellurium even a little bit.
Tellurium in Pop Culture: The Warframe Connection
Attention gamers. This is all about you guys. Beyond the element tellurium, the game Warframe also has a resource of that name that players search for during gameplay. Players needing tellurium will try to hunt down for it and make various kinds of gear in the game. And so, whether in real life or virtually, tellurium is everywhere.
Tellurium Fun Facts
Would you like to hear some fun facts about tellurium? Well, here are several things you can say at your next party:
1. How was it discovered?: It was found by Franz-Joseph Müller von Reichenstein in 1782 when he gave it its current name as if one can pronounce it after alcohol.
2. The Name: Its name is derived from a Latin word ‘tellus’ which means ‘earth’. Appropriate for a hard-to-find but down-to-earth substance.
3. Alien Origins?: There is an idea that heavy elements like tellurium may have been brought to Earth by supernovae among other theories. It means that every time you look up at night sky, remember that this could be tellurium from outer space itself returning back to dust.
You may also like to read: Could This Biodegradable Glue Be The Future of Do-It-Yourself Projects?
Wrapping Up Our Tellurium Tale
So there you go! Friends, tellurium might not match the fame of gold or the prevalence of oxygen, but it has a niche on that periodic table just like any other element does. It is worth knowing about tellurium as an element because it makes your gadgets smarter and keeps your breath interesting.
Now you don’t have to worry what will happen when someone asks you about tellurium, you can drop some serious knowledge (or even get a laugh). And also be aware that if at some point in life you experience a smell of garlic, then maybe tellurium is saying hello.
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