TIN (3500-Sn)
3500-Te TELLURIUM
Tellurium (Te) is the fourth element in Group VIA in the periodic
table; it has an atomic number of 52, an atomic weight of 127.60,
and valences of 2, 4, and 6. The average abundance of Te in the
earth’s crust is 0.002 ppm; in soils it is 0.001 to 0.01 ppm; and in
groundwaters it is ⬍0.1 mg/L. Tellurium is found in its native state
and as the telluride of gold and other metals. It is used in alloys,
catalysts, batteries, and as a coloring agent in glass and ceramics.
Joint Task Group: 20th Edition—See 3500-Al.
3-103
The common aqueous species is TeO32⫺. The metal and its
compounds are toxic by inhalation.
Perform analyses by the electrothermal atomic absorption
method (3113B). The inductively coupled plasma mass spectro-
metric method (3125) also may be applied successfully in most
cases (with lower detection limits), even though tellurium is not
specifically listed as an analyte in the method.