tellurium tetrachloride formula TeCl4
In this article we will discuss the formula of tellurium tetrachloride, an inorganic compound with the empirical formula TeCl4. It is white to yellow solid that melts easily at 200 °C and can be dissolved in water.
It contains tellurium in its +4 oxidation state, along with chloride ions. This is a toxic and corrosive substance, so it should be handled with care.
The chief commercial source of selenium and tellurium is the anode slimes formed in electrolytic copper refining. The anode slimes are produced by electrolytic treatment of sulfide ores containing copper pyrites.
Selenium and tellurium can be found in the sulfide minerals pyrite (CuS), galena (PbS), and anglesite (PbSO4). They are also present as impurities in many sulfide ores, especially those containing copper pyrites.
These compounds are soluble in water and can be reduced with sulfur dioxide to brick-red elemental selenium or tellurium, respectively. These elements are used in a wide variety of applications, including phosphorus-containing fertilizers and insecticides, batteries, and metal alloying.
The toxicity of the selenium and tellurium salts varies with concentration, but ingestion of large amounts causes diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain, nausea, headache, and metallic taste. Light inhalation of dust containing these materials may produce irritation of the respiratory system, dry mouth, garlic-like odor to breath and sweat, suppression of the sweat glands, and dermatitis.
The chemistry of these elements and their related compounds has been largely studied by means of spectrophotometric techniques, and the structure of some polyselenium compounds has been determined using X-ray crystallography. A number of oxyacids containing these elements have also been prepared, and some salts are stable in aqueous solutions.