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Element 34 - Selenium (Se)
From
selene
, or moon; discovered 1817; unlike most electrical conductors, selenium varies in conductivity with variations in light. This "photoelectric" trait suits it for service in electric eyes, solar cells, television cameras, and light meters.
Properties
Atomic Number
:
34
Atomic Weight
:
78.96
Electron Configuration
(at ground state):
1s
2
2s
2
2p
6
3s
2
3p
6
3d
10
4s
2
4p
4
Oxidation States
(Bold most stable):
-2,
+4
, +6
Boiling Point
(K):
958
Melting Point (K):
494
Density
(at 300K -- g/cm
3
):
4.79
Atomic Volume (at 300K -- cm
3
/mol)
16.50
Number of stable
isotopes
:
6
Mass Number
(Bold naturally occurring) --
Half-Life
--
Disintigration Type
:
75 -- 118.5 days --
beta particle
(
electron
) emission
79 -- 6.5 x 10
4 years --
beta particle
(
electron
) emission
Covalent Radius (Å):
1.16
Atomic Radius (Å):
1.40
First
Ionization Potential
(V):
9.752
Electronegativity
(Pauling's):
2.55
Specific Heat
Capacity (at 300K -- J g
-1
K
-1
):
0.32
Heat of Vaporization (kJ/mol):
26.32
Heat of Fusion (kJ/mol):
5.54
Electrical Conductivity (at 293K for polycrystalline material -- 10
6
-1
cm
-1
):
8
Thermal Conductivity (at 300K -- W m
-1
K
-1
):
2.04
Crystal Structure:
Hexagonal
Acid
-
Base
Properties:
Very acidic