Density
6.24 g/cm³ (at 20 °C)
Discovery
Tellurium was discovered in 1783 by Franz-Joseph Müller von Reichenstein in Transylvania.
Common Uses
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Used in rewritable CDs and DVDs.
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Used in some types of solar cells.
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Added to steel and copper alloys to improve machinability.
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Used to color glass and ceramics blue or brown.
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Used in some thermoelectric devices.
Interesting Facts
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Tellurium and its compounds often have a garlic-like odor.
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It is a brittle, silvery-white metalloid that looks similar to tin.
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Tellurium is a semiconductor and its conductivity increases slightly when exposed to light.
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The name "tellurium" comes from the Latin word "tellus," meaning "Earth."
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