Tellurium - ₅₂Te: reactions of elements

Reaction of tellurium with air

Tellurium burns in air to form the dioxide tellurium(IV) oxide, TeO₂.

Te(s) + 2O₂(g) → TeO₂(s)

Reaction of tellurium with water

Tellurium does not react with water under normal conditions.

Reaction of tellurium with the halogens

Under carefully controlled conditions in a sealed tube, tellurium reacts with chlorine to form Te₃Cl₂.

Tellurium reacts with fluorine, F₂, and burns to form the hexafluoride tellurium(VI) fluoride.

Te₈(s) + 24F₂(g) → 8TeF₆(l) [orange]

Carefully done, tellurium reacts with fluorine, F₂, mixed with nitrogen gas at 0°C to form the tetrafluoride tellurium(IV) fluoride. Tellurium also reacts under controlled conditions with the other halogens chlorine, Cl₂, bromine, Br₂, and iodine, I₂, to form the respective tetrahalides tellurium(IV) chlrode, tellurium(IV) bromide, and tellurium(IV) iodide (requires heating).

Te₈(s) + 16F₂(g) → 8TeF₄(s) []

Te₈(s) + 16Cl₂(g) → 8TeCl₄(s) []

Te₈(s) + 16Br₂(g) → 8TeBr₄(s) [red]

Te₈(s) + 16I₂(g) → 8TeI₄(s) []

Reaction of tellurium with acids

Tellurium does not react with dilute non-oxidizing acids.

Reaction of tellurium with bases

Tellurium does not react with dilute bases under normal conditions.