Question

Look up tellurium \((Z=52)\) in the periodic table and predict how many covalent bonds it is likely to form. Explain.

Short answer

Tellurium is likely to form two covalent bonds by sharing two electrons to complete its octet.

Step-by-step solution

Identify Group Number

Tellurium (Te) is located in Group 16 of the periodic table. Elements in this group are known as chalcogens.

Determine Valence Electrons

Elements in Group 16 have six valence electrons. This is crucial as covalent bonding involves sharing valence electrons.

Predict Bonds Based on Electron Deficiency

To form a stable octet, tellurium needs to complete its octet structure by having eight valence electrons. Since it has six electrons, it needs two additional electrons.

Conclusion on Covalent Bonds

To achieve a full octet, tellurium is likely to share two electrons, thus forming two covalent bonds.

Key concepts

Chalcogens

Chalcogens are the elements found in Group 16 of the periodic table. This group includes oxygen, sulfur, selenium, tellurium, and polonium. These elements share similar chemical properties due to their position in the periodic table.

Chalcogens are known for their role in forming various compounds through covalent bonding, as they tend to gain or share electrons to fill their outer electron shell. This makes them quite reactive, especially with alkali and alkaline earth metals in the formation of oxides, sulfides, and other important compounds.

• Oxygen is arguably the most well-known chalcogen, essential for life.
• Sulfur is widely used in industry, particularly in the production of sulfuric acid.
• Tellurium's presence in chalcogens highlights its similar reactivity patterns, often forming compounds such as tellurides.

Understanding chalcogens is key to grasping how elements interact and bond to form crucial compounds.

Valence Electrons

Valence electrons are the electrons located in the outermost shell of an atom. These are the electrons involved in bonding as they are accessible for interactions with other atoms.

Elements in the periodic table are often categorized by the number of valence electrons they possess. This significantly affects their chemical reactivity and bonding behavior. For instance, all Group 16 elements, including tellurium, have six valence electrons.

• Valence electrons dictate an element's ability to engage in covalent bonding.
• The configuration of these electrons influences how many bonds an atom can form.
• In tellurium's case, its six valence electrons mean it needs to acquire or share two more to achieve a stable electronic configuration.

Recognizing the role of valence electrons allows us to predict how elements such as tellurium interact in compounds.

Octet Rule

The octet rule is a basic principle of chemistry that refers to an atom's tendency to have eight electrons in its valence shell. This configuration is associated with stability and is a common goal in chemical bonding.

Atoms achieve a complete octet through bonding, such as sharing electrons in covalent bonds, gaining electrons in ionic bonds, or losing electrons to resemble a noble gas's electron configuration.

• Tellurium, as a chalcogen, seeks to achieve an octet by sharing electrons.
• It has six valence electrons, so it needs to gain or share two more electrons.
• This need for two additional electrons typically results in tellurium forming two covalent bonds.

The octet rule not only guides predictions about an element's bonding but also explains the stability of many compounds in nature.