Semiconductor of the Week: Tellurium
Tellurium is very interesting. It's abbreviation is Te, its atomic number is 52. It looks like tin and is used mostly in alloys and as a semiconductor. Te is one of the nine rarest elements on earth because when the earth was being formed it was severely depleted as a result of its role in the oxidation and reduction of hydrogen. I think oxygen and water were absent so tellurium combined with hydrogen instead of oxygen. As a result of the combination, tellurium evaporated. The main source of tellurium today is from the byproducts of the refining other metals like copper and lead. 500 tons of treated copper ore yields one pound of tellurium.
Tellurium is used as a p-type semiconductor. It is used by the semiconductor and electrical industries. It's used in the media layer of CDs and DVDs. It also looks like tellurium shows great potential when used as cadmium telluride to make extremely efficient solar panels.
Commercial grade Te is usually sold as a powder but is also available in solid form. In 2000 it sold for $14 per pound, but with increased demand it rose to $100 per pound in 2006. That seems pretty cheap for one of the 9 rarest elements on earth.
Welcome to Chem Balancer!
This was a fun link. I understood this in class and I understood it on this site. And I won! What's not to love? I also like the tutorial, but I didn't really have to think. I like the interactive sites. They let me test myself and see if I really understand or not.
PH Balance
This is an interesting topic. I looked at the links and they were interesting. The next time I go to the drugstore I am going to buy some ph strips and see where I come out. I have no idea. I do drink a cup of decaf in the morning and have a diet coke in the afternoon. (as everyone knows) I am willing to investigate this and see where I stand. If I am acidic though, I will not be eliminating either beverage....look for me to be drinking lemon in water first thing in the morning. It's just a matter of balancing the equation and I'm all checked out on that....
3 comments:
the balancing really interests me too. everytime i walk past a pharmacy, i am tempted to buy some strips and test myself. the question is, am i ready to give up all the salty foods i love and add more sweet in my life? hmmm....
Since copper has gone up in price so much I guess it makes sense that Te would too.....--Jean
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