Selenium Facts

Dr. Helmenstine holds a Ph.D. in biomedical sciences and is a science writer, educator, and consultant. She has taught science courses at the high school, college, and graduate levels.

Selenium Basic Facts

Atomic Number: 34

Symbol: Se

Discovery: Jöns Jakob Berzelius and Johan Gottlieb Gahn(Sweden)

Electron Configuration: [Ar] 4s 2 3d 10 4p 4

Word Origin: Greek Selene: moon

Properties: Selenium has an atomic radius of 117 pm, a melting point of 220.5°C, boiling point of 685°C, with oxidation states of 6, 4, and -2. Selenium is a member of the sulfur group of nonmetallic elements and is similar to this element in terms of its forms and compounds. Selenium exhibits photovoltaic action, where light is converted directly into electricity, and photoconductive action, where electrical resistance decreases with increased illumination. Selenium exists in several forms, but is usually prepared with an amorphous or crystalline structure. Amorphous selenium is either red (powder form) or black (vitreous form). Crystalline monoclinic selenium is deep red; crystalline hexagonal selenium, the most stable variety, is gray with a metallic luster.

Uses: Selenium is used in xerography to copy documents and in photographic toner. It is used in the glass industry to make ruby-red colored glasses and enamels and to decolorize glass. It is used in photocells and light meters. Because it can convert AC electricity to DC, it is widely used in rectifiers. Selenium is a p-type semiconductor below its melting point, which leads to many solid-state and electronics applications. Selenium is also used as an additive to stainless steel.

Sources: Selenium occurs in the minerals crooksite and clausthalite. It has been prepared from flue dusts from processing copper sulfide ores, but the anode metal from electrolytic copper refineries is a more common source of selenium. Selenium may be recovered by roasting the mud with soda or sulfuric acid, or by smelting with soda and niter:

The selenite Na₂SeO₃ is acidified with sulphuric acid. Tellurites precipitate out of solution, leaving selenous acid, H₂SeO₃n. Selenium is liberated from selenous acid by SO₂

Element Classification: Non-Metal