Tellurite
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| Names | |
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| Systematic IUPAC name | |
| Identifiers | |
3D model (JSmol)
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| ChEBI | |
| ChemSpider | |
| 100741 | |
PubChem CID
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CompTox Dashboard (EPA)
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| Properties | |
| O3Te2− | |
| Molar mass | 175.6 g mol−1 |
| Conjugate acid | Tellurous acid |
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
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Tellurite is a oxyanion of tellurium with the formula TeO2−
3. It is the ion of tellurous acid, and is chemically related to tellurium dioxide (TeO
2), whose mineral appearance also bears the name tellurite. Tellurites are typically colorless or white salts, which in some ways are comparable to sulfite.[3]
Structure and reactions
[edit]
Tellurite dianion is pyramidal, like selenite and sulfite. The anion has C3v symmetry.
Tellurites can be reduced to elemental tellurium by electrolysis or a strong reducing agent. When fused with nitrate salts, tellurite salts oxidize to tellurates (TeO2−
4).
Upon acidification of aqueous solutions of tellurite salts, solid hydrated tellurium dioxide (TeO2) precipitates. This reaction allows the separation of tellurium from selenium since selenous acid remains soluble at low pH. The intermediate in the protonation occurs at oxygen to give [TeO2(OH)]−.
Compounds
[edit]- Sodium tellurite
- Potassium tellurite (K2TeO3) is used together with agar as part of a selective medium for growth of some bacteria (Clauberg medium). Corynebacteria and some other species reduce TeO2−
3 to elemental Te, which stains the bacteria black.
Biological activity
[edit]Tellurite (TeO₃²⁻) is a highly toxic oxyanion of tellurium with notable biological activity, particularly due to its toxic effects on various organisms, including bacteria, plants, and humans. The lack of mitochondrial proteins MRPL44, NAM9 (MNA6) and GEP3 (MTG3) in yeast is associated with resistance to tellurite.[4]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Tellurous Acid - PubChem Public Chemical Database". The PubChem Project. USA: National Center for Biotechnology Information.
- ^ "Tellurite (CHEBI:30477)". Chemical Entities of Biological Interest (ChEBI). UK: European Bioinformatics Institute.
- ^ Greenwood, Norman N.; Earnshaw, Alan (1997). Chemistry of the Elements (2nd ed.). Butterworth-Heinemann. ISBN 978-0-08-037941-8.
- ^ Del Giudice, Luigi; Alifano, Pietro; Calcagnile, Matteo; Di Schiavi, Elia; Bertapelle, Carla; Aletta, Mariarosaria; Pontieri, Paola (2022-05-01). "Mitochondrial ribosomal protein genes connected with Alzheimer's and tellurite toxicity". Mitochondrion. 64: 45–58. doi:10.1016/j.mito.2022.02.006. ISSN 1567-7249.
Further reading
[edit]- M. R. Masson, H. D. Lutz and B. Engelen (eds.) "Sulfites, Selenites and Tellurites", Pergamon Press, Oxford, 1986.