Tellurium is one of the rarest stable elements on Earth. There's less of it in the crust than gold or platinum. Yet this very metalloid is saving the planet from greenhouse gases: CdTe thin-film solar panels produce the cheapest electricity of any photovoltaic technology.
Tellurium got its name from Latin 'tellus' — Earth. Just as selenium was named after the Moon. When tellurium enters the body, it converts to dimethyl telluride — a substance with a sharp garlic odor. Even a tiny 0.01 mg dose causes persistent 'garlic breath' for weeks.
Thermoelectric alloys based on tellurium (Bi₂Te₃) convert heat directly into electricity. They already work in spacecraft, heated car seats, and portable coolers.
Tellurium is also a key component of phase-change memory (PCM) — a next-generation data storage technology. The Ge₂Sb₂Te₅ alloy instantly switches between crystalline and amorphous states, which is 1,000 times faster than flash memory.
Tellurium is moderately toxic but with a very unpleasant side effect: even microdoses cause persistent garlic odor of breath and sweat for weeks. This is dimethyl telluride — a metabolic product. Chronic exposure can damage the nervous system. Hydrogen telluride (H₂Te) is extremely toxic — more dangerous than hydrogen sulfide. Working with tellurium requires fume hoods, gloves, and goggles.
The name 'tellurium' comes from Latin 'tellus' (Earth). Selenium was named after the Moon. Two elements — like a celestial pair.
Even 0.01 mg of tellurium in the body causes persistent garlic odor of breath and sweat — for weeks. It's the most notorious side effect.
Solar farms with CdTe panels produce the cheapest electricity in the world — under $0.03 per kWh. First Solar leads the market.
Tellurium is rarer than gold and platinum in Earth's crust (only 0.001 ppm). But there's much more of it in space — a mystery for scientists.
Phase-change memory based on Ge₂Sb₂Te₅ switches 1,000 times faster than flash. It's the future of data storage.
| Isotope | Mass (u) | Abundance | Half-life | Decay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
120Te | 119.904020 | 0.09% | stable | — |
122Te | 121.903044 | 2.55% | stable | — |
123Te | 122.904270 | 0.89% | stable | — |
124Te | 123.902818 | 4.74% | stable | — |
125Te | 124.904431 | 7.07% | stable | — |
126Te | 125.903312 | 18.84% | stable | — |
128Te | 127.904463 | 31.74% | stable | — |
130Te | 129.906224 | 34.08% | stable | — |
Analysis of gold ore