Tellurium(VI) fluoride facts for kids
Tellurium(VI) fluoride, also known as tellurium hexafluoride, is a special chemical compound. Its chemical formula is TeF6. This means it is made of one tellurium atom and six fluorine atoms. Tellurium hexafluoride is interesting because it contains tellurium in a high energy state.
What is Tellurium Hexafluoride Like?
Tellurium(VI) fluoride is a gas that you cannot see, meaning it is colorless. If you make it very, very cold, it turns into a white solid. This chemical has a very bad smell and is very poisonous. Because it is so dangerous, only trained scientists should ever handle it.
This chemical is similar to another one called selenium hexafluoride. However, tellurium hexafluoride does not evaporate as easily. When tellurium hexafluoride mixes with water, it creates two other chemicals: telluric acid and hydrofluoric acid. It can also react with tellurium metal if it is heated above 200 °C (392 °F). This reaction makes tellurium tetrafluoride.
How is Tellurium Hexafluoride Made?
Scientists make tellurium hexafluoride in a few ways. One common way is to react hot fluorine gas with tellurium metal. If the fluorine gas is cold, it makes a different chemical called tellurium tetrafluoride instead.
Another way to make tellurium hexafluoride is by reacting fluorine with tellurium trioxide. Scientists can also make it by reacting selenium tetrafluoride with tellurium dioxide. This reaction first makes tellurium tetrafluoride. Then, this tellurium tetrafluoride is heated above 200 °C (392 °F) to create tellurium hexafluoride and tellurium.
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