Definition

Noun: * A brittle, silver-white metalloid element. It is chemically related to selenium and sulfur. This element is used in alloys and as a semiconductor material. In nature, it occurs primarily as tellurides within ores of copper, nickel, silver, and gold.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The sample was analyzed and found to contain a trace amount of atomic number 52.
  • Atomic number 52 is less common than many other metalloids.
  • The semiconductor properties of atomic number 52 are of interest to researchers.

Advanced Usage

• In scientific and technical contexts, atomic number 52 is the formal, systematic name for the element, used to avoid ambiguity. Its common name is tellurium.
  • The periodic table lists atomic number 52 between antimony (51) and iodine (53).

Variants and Related Words

• Tellurium (Te): The common name for the element with atomic number 52.
  • Tellurium is used in the production of cadmium telluride solar cells.
• Telluride: A compound of tellurium with another more electropositive element or group.
  • Bismuth telluride is a common thermoelectric material.

Synonyms

• Tellurium (Te): The direct synonym and standard name for this element.

Notes on Different Meanings

• The term atomic number 52 has only one specific meaning: it refers exclusively to the chemical element tellurium. It is not used idiomatically or in non-scientific contexts.

Noun

1. 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