tellurium
A brittle, silver-white metalloid element with the symbol Te and atomic number 52.
[U] Uncountable
This term belongs to the specialized lexicon of chemistry and materials science. It carries a clinical, technical connotation and is almost never used in casual conversation unless discussing semiconductor physics or metallurgy.
In a practical sense, it is associated with high-tech industrial applications, specifically in the creation of thin-film solar cells and infrared detectors, giving it a modern, scientific feeling of precision and utility.
Used exclusively as a mass noun for the chemical element, such as when measuring a specific amount of tellurium in a lab.
Meanings
Related Words
elementmetalloidchalcogenseleniumsulfuroxygenpoloniumantimonyarsenicboronsilicongermaniumperiodgroupvalenceelectronorbitalisotopeatomicmassnumberchemistrymetallurgysemiconductorcrystallatticeallotropeoxidehalidecompoundreactioncatalysttoxicitybrittlelustresilvergreymineraloreextractionrefiningsmeltingalloycadmiumleadbismuththalliumindiumgalliumphotonicsopticsinfraredlaserdiodetransistorcapacitorsolarcellphotovoltaicconductivityresistivityelectronegativityionizationplasmagasliquidsolidmeltingboilingsublimationvalence electroncovalentionicbondmoleculeatomnucleusprotonneutron