The element tellurium (Te) has a silver-white appearance, but it is brittle. It has a high electrical conductivity and is often used as a semiconductor in electronic devices, such as solar panels, CD/DVD players, and infrared detectors. Identify the classification of tellurium based on the properties and its importance to modern life.

Question

The element tellurium (Te) has a silver-white appearance, but it is brittle. It has a high electrical conductivity and is often used as a semiconductor in electronic devices, such as solar panels, CD/DVD players, and infrared detectors. Identify the classification of tellurium based on the properties and its importance to modern life.
A.
rare-earth element
B.
transition metal
C.
metalloid
D.
alkali metal

GPT-4o mini · Answer

The correct classification of tellurium (Te) based on its properties is:

C. metalloid

Tellurium exhibits characteristics of both metals and non-metals, which is typical of metalloids. Its high electrical conductivity also aligns with the properties of semiconductors, making it important for various electronic applications.