Tellurite
{{Short description|Ion}}
{{about|the ion|the mineral|Tellurite (mineral)|the similarly named Star Trek race|Tellarite}}
{{Chembox
| ImageFile = Tellurite.png
| ImageFile_Ref = {{chemboximage|correct|??}}
| ImageSize = 121
| ImageName = Skeletal formula of tellurite
| SystematicName = Tellurite{{Cite web|title = Tellurous Acid - PubChem Public Chemical Database|url = https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/summary/summary.cgi?cid=115037&loc=ec_rcs|work = The PubChem Project|location = USA|publisher = National Center for Biotechnology Information}} (substitutive)
Trioxidotellurate(2−){{Cite web|title = Tellurite (CHEBI:30477)|url = http://www.ebi.ac.uk/chebi/searchId.do?chebiId=CHEBI:30477|work = Chemical Entities of Biological Interest (ChEBI)|location = UK|publisher = European Bioinformatics Institute}} (additive)
|Section1={{Chembox Identifiers
| CASNo = 15852-22-9
| PubChem = 115037
| ChemSpiderID = 102958
| ChemSpiderID_Ref = {{chemspidercite|correct|chemspider}}
| ChEBI = 30477
| Gmelin = 100741
| SMILES = [O-][Te+]([O-])[O-]
| StdInChI = 1S/H2O3Te/c1-4(2)3/h(H2,1,2,3)/p-2
| StdInChI_Ref = {{stdinchicite|correct|chemspider}}
| StdInChIKey = SITVSCPRJNYAGV-UHFFFAOYSA-L
| StdInChIKey_Ref = {{stdinchicite|correct|chemspider}}
}}
|Section2={{Chembox Properties
| Formula = O3Te2−
| MolarMass = 175.6 g mol−1
| ConjugateAcid = Tellurous acid
}}
}}
Tellurite is a oxyanion of tellurium with the formula {{chem|Te|O|3|2−}}. It is the ion of tellurous acid, and is chemically related to tellurium dioxide ({{chem|Te|O|2}}), whose mineral appearance also bears the name tellurite. Tellurites are typically colorless or white salts, which in some ways are comparable to sulfite.{{Greenwood&Earnshaw2nd}}
Structure and reactions
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 ({{chem|TeO|4|2-}}).
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
- 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 {{chem|Te|O|3|2−}} to elemental Te, which stains the bacteria black.
Biological activity
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.{{Cite journal |last=Del Giudice |first=Luigi |last2=Alifano |first2=Pietro |last3=Calcagnile |first3=Matteo |last4=Di Schiavi |first4=Elia |last5=Bertapelle |first5=Carla |last6=Aletta |first6=Mariarosaria |last7=Pontieri |first7=Paola |date=2022-05-01 |title=Mitochondrial ribosomal protein genes connected with Alzheimer’s and tellurite toxicity |url=https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S1567724922000198 |journal=Mitochondrion |volume=64 |pages=45–58 |doi=10.1016/j.mito.2022.02.006 |issn=1567-7249|url-access=subscription }}
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
Further reading
- M. R. Masson, H. D. Lutz and B. Engelen (eds.) "Sulfites, Selenites and Tellurites", Pergamon Press, Oxford, 1986.
{{Tellurites}}