Mercuric telluride
Agent Name
Mercuric telluride
CAS Number
12068-90-5
Formula
Hg-Te
Major Category
Metals
Synonyms
Mercury telluride; [ChemIDplus] Mercury(II)telluride; [ChemFinder] UN2025
Category
Mercury Compounds, Inorganic
Description
Black solid, insoluble in water; [MSDSonline]
Sources/Uses
Used in solar cell semiconductors, transistors, infrared detectors, and ultrasonic amplifiers; [Hawley]
Comments
A skin and eye irritant; Very toxic by ingestion, inhalation, or skin absorption with potential to cause mercury poisoning and tellurium poisoning (garlic odor of breath and sweat); [MSDSonline] See "Mercury, inorganic compounds" and the linked occupational disease.
Biomedical References
Exposure Assessment
Skin Designation (ACGIH)
Yes
TLV (ACGIH)
0.025 mg/m3, as Hg (0.1 mg/m3, as Te)
PEL (OSHA)
0.1 mg/m3, as Hg (0.1 mg/m3, as Te)
MAK
0.02 mg/m3, as Hg, inhalable fraction
IDLH (NIOSH)
10 mg/m3, as Hg
NFPA
will not burn
Adverse Effects
Neurotoxin
Sensorimotor
Nephrotoxin
Yes
Diseases, Processes, and Activities Linked to This Agent
Processes
Industrial Processes with risk of exposure: