Te2

Te2 is the diatomic molecule composed of two tellurium atoms. It is primarily studied as a transient species in gas phase and in vapors derived from elemental tellurium, rather than as a stable unit in bulk tellurium, for which the element forms a polymeric solid network.

Structure and bonding: Te2 is held together by covalent bonds between two heavy chalcogen atoms. The bonding is relatively weak compared to lighter diatomic molecules, reflecting the large atomic size and diffuse orbitals of tellurium. The molecule exhibits multiple electronic states, and its rovibrational spectrum has been the subject of extensive spectroscopic work to elucidate its energy levels and transitions.

Formation and detection: Te2 can be produced by heating tellurium to high temperatures, by evaporation in vacuum, or by laser ablation techniques. In experiments, Te2 is detected using mass spectrometry and various spectroscopic methods, which reveal a dense set of absorption lines in the visible and near-ultraviolet regions. Its spectrum has made Te2 a useful reference in laser spectroscopy.

Applications and significance: The rich absorption spectrum of Te2 has practical utility as a wavelength reference for stabilizing tunable lasers in laboratory settings, particularly for visible-wavelength applications. Beyond instrumentation, Te2 serves as a model system for studying bonding and electronic structure among heavy p-block diatomics and for understanding tellurium chemistry in gas-phase processes.

Safety: Tellurium and its compounds can be hazardous; appropriate safety precautions are required when handling tellurium vapors or Te2-containing plasmas.

See also: Tellurium, Diatomic molecules, Spectroscopy of heavy element species.