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34Se78.972
Polyatomic Non-Metalp-block

Selenium

Element 34 on the periodic table, symbol Se, group 16, period 4.

Selenium is a chemical element with symbol Se and atomic number 34. It is a nonmetal with properties that are intermediate between those of its periodic table column-adjacent chalcogen elements sulfur and tellurium. It rarely occurs in its elemental state in nature, or as pure ore compounds.

Appearance: black, red, and gray (not pictured) allotropes

Properties

Atomic Number
34
Atomic Mass
78.9718 u
Group
16
Period
4
Block
p-block
Category
Polyatomic Non-Metal
State at 25 °C
Solid
Melting Point
494 K · 220.9 °C
Boiling Point
958 K · 684.9 °C
Density
4.81 g/cm³
Atomic Radius
115 pm
Electronegativity
2.55
Oxidation States
-2, +2, +4, +6
Abundance in Crust
0.05 mg/kg
Discovered
1817
Discovered By
Jöns Jakob Berzelius

Electron Configuration

[Ar] 3d10 4s2 4p4

1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 4s2 3d10 4p4

Ionisation Energies (kJ/mol)

  1. 1. 941
  2. 2. 2,045
  3. 3. 2,973.7
  4. 4. 4,144
  5. 5. 6,590
  6. 6. 7,880
  7. 7. 14,990

Elements near Selenium

Elements in the same group share the number of outer electrons and behave in similar ways. Elements in the same period share a shell, so they change steadily from left to right.

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