Telluric acid

Chemical compound

Structural formula of telluric acid

Telluric acid is a chemical compound with the formula H_TeO_. It is a weak acid and is the oxyanion of tellurium. Telluric acid is a colorless solid that is soluble in water and forms a variety of salts known as tellurates.

Structure and properties

Telluric acid is a tetrahedral molecule, similar in structure to sulfuric acid and selenium compounds. The central tellurium atom is bonded to four oxygen atoms, forming a tetrahedral geometry. The chemical formula can be represented as Te(OH)_, indicating the presence of hydroxyl groups.

Telluric acid is a weak acid, meaning it does not completely dissociate in water. It can form two types of salts: normal tellurates, which contain the TeO___ ion, and hydrogen tellurates, which contain the HTeO__ ion.

Preparation

Telluric acid can be prepared by the oxidation of tellurium dioxide (TeO_) with strong oxidizing agents such as hydrogen peroxide (H_O_) or nitric acid (HNO_). The reaction with hydrogen peroxide is as follows:

TeO_ + 2 H_O_ _ H_TeO_ + H_O

Uses

Telluric acid is used in the preparation of tellurate salts, which have applications in analytical chemistry and material science. It is also used as an oxidizing agent in various chemical reactions.

Safety

Telluric acid is considered to be a hazardous substance. It can cause irritation to the skin, eyes, and respiratory tract. Proper safety precautions should be taken when handling this compound, including the use of personal protective equipment such as gloves and goggles.

Related pages

• Tellurium
• Sulfuric acid
• Selenium
• Oxidizing agent