Tellurite

<h2 id="structure-and-reactions">Structure and reactions</h2>

<p>Tellurite dianion is pyramidal, like <a href="/facts/Selenite_(ion)/wJvsRY2r">selenite</a> and <a href="/facts/Sulfite/xdppUlKA">sulfite</a>.  The anion has C3v <a href="/facts/Symmetry_group/CNqeseMp">symmetry</a>.
</p><p>Tellurites can be reduced to elemental tellurium by <a href="/facts/Electrolysis/pU75nCDI">electrolysis</a> or a strong <a href="/facts/Reducing_agent/CtfSGVXC">reducing agent</a>.  When fused with nitrate salts, tellurite salts oxidize to <a href="/facts/Tellurates/jnAvMCss">tellurates</a> (TeO2−4).
</p><p>Upon acidification of aqueous solutions of tellurite salts, solid hydrated <a href="/facts/Tellurium_dioxide/yrILUsAM">tellurium dioxide</a> (TeO2) precipitates.  This reaction allows the separation of tellurium from selenium since <a href="/facts/Selenous_acid/0jtCQBIB">selenous acid</a> remains soluble at low pH.  The intermediate in the protonation occurs at oxygen to give [TeO2(OH)]−.
</p>
<h2 id="compounds">Compounds</h2>
<ul><li><a href="/facts/Sodium_tellurite/ykj58gQS">Sodium tellurite</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/Potassium_tellurite/kjeHeuMq">Potassium tellurite</a> (K2TeO3) is used together with agar as part of a selective medium for growth of some bacteria (Clauberg medium). <a href="/facts/Corynebacteria/dPyL8VPz">Corynebacteria</a> and some other species reduce TeO2−3 to elemental Te, which stains the bacteria black.</li></ul>
<h2 id="biological-activity">Biological activity</h2>
<p>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.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:2" href="#fn:2"><sup>2</sup></a>
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<h2 id="see-also">See also</h2>
<ul><li>List of tellurites</li></ul>

<h2 id="further-reading">Further reading</h2>
<ul><li>M. R. Masson, H. D. Lutz and B. Engelen (eds.) "Sulfites, Selenites and Tellurites", Pergamon Press, Oxford, 1986.</li></ul>

<h2 id="references">References</h2>

<ol>
<li id="fn:1"><p>Greenwood, Norman  N.; Earnshaw, Alan (1997). Chemistry of the Elements (2nd ed.). Butterworth-Heinemann. ISBN 978-0-08-037941-8. <a href="978-0-08-037941-8" target="_blank">978-0-08-037941-8</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:2"><p>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. <a href="https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S1567724922000198" target="_blank">https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S1567724922000198</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
</ol>

Tellurite open-in-new

Tellurite