Did You Just Eat Spaghetti or Vulcanized Rubber?

Tellurium is not an ingredient you will find in most kitchens. Tellurium is a metalloid, meaning it possesses the properties of both metals and nonmetals. It has a silvery-white appearance, and exhibits a metallic luster when pure. Unfortunately, another characteristic of tellurium is that human exposure to tellurium can lead to a garlic odor on the breath, nausea, and eventual respiratory problems

According to this USGS Mineral Resources Program data sheet, among other things, “Tellurium is used in copying machines and as a coloring agent in ceramics and glass, and as a vulcanizing agent in the chemical industry to make durable products, including an additive that improves rubber’s heat resistance. Integrated circuits, laser diodes, and medical instrumentation, all of which have experienced robust manufacturing growth in recent years, contain tellurium. It can even be added to gasoline to prevent engine knocks in automobiles.”

So make the spaghetti, but skip the tellurium.

Discover more facts about this element in this infographic 9 Fast Facts About Tellurium.