Tellurium (Noun)
Meaning
A brittle silver-white metalloid element that is related to selenium and sulfur; it is used in alloys and as a semiconductor; occurs mainly as tellurides in ores of copper and nickel and silver and gold.
Classification
Nouns denoting substances.
Examples
- The element tellurium is difficult to extract and refine due to its rarity and the challenges of separating it from the metals it's often found with.
- Tellurium was discovered in the late 18th century, and its name is derived from the Latin word for earth.
- The main countries where tellurium is produced commercially are Canada, China, and Peru, from ores of copper, nickel, and other metals.
- Tellurium has some useful applications as a semiconductor, and it's often alloyed with steel and lead to increase their strength and durability.
- The rarity and high price of tellurium have led researchers to investigate alternative methods for extracting it from waste materials and from recyclable sources.