Potassium telluride

Potassium telluride is an inorganic compound with a chemical formula K₂Te. It is formed from potassium and tellurium, making it a telluride.^[2] Potassium telluride is a white powder. Like rubidium telluride and caesium telluride, it can be used as an ultraviolet detector in space. Its crystal structure is similar to other tellurides, which have an anti-fluorite structure.

Potassium telluride

K+: __ 　 Te2-: __
Identifiers
CAS Number	12142-40-4 Y
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image
ChemSpider	74841
ECHA InfoCard	100.032.039
EC Number	235-256-4
PubChem CID	82942
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)	DTXSID501311453
InChI InChI=1S/2K.Te Key: JNKJTXHDWHQVDL-UHFFFAOYSA-N
SMILES [K][Te][K]
Properties
Chemical formula	K2Te
Molar mass	298.64 g/mol
Appearance	pale yellow powder, turns grey when exposed to air[1]
Melting point	874 °C
Related compounds
Other anions	Potassium oxide Potassium sulfide Potassium selenide Potassium polonide
Other cations	Lithium telluride Sodium telluride Rubidium telluride Caesium telluride
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). Infobox references

Production

Tellurium will react with melting potassium cyanide (KCN) producing potassium telluride. It can also be produced by direct combination of potassium and tellurium, usually in liquid ammonia solvent:^[3]

${\displaystyle \mathrm {2\ K+Te\longrightarrow K_{2}Te} }$

Reactions

Adding potassium telluride to water and letting the filtrate stand in air leads to an oxidation reaction that generates potassium hydroxide (KOH) and elemental tellurium:^[3][4]

${\displaystyle \mathrm {2\ K_{2}Te+2\ H_{2}O+O_{2}\longrightarrow 4\ KOH+2\ Te} }$