Element 34

Selenium (Se)

Reactive nonmetal · Period 4 · Group 16 · p-block

Selenium (Se) is element 34 of the periodic table, a reactive nonmetal in period 4, group 16 (p-block) with an atomic mass of 78.971 and is a solid at standard conditions.

At a glance

Atomic number
34
Symbol
Se
Atomic mass
78.971 u
Category
Reactive nonmetals
Period
4
Group
16
Block
p-block
Phase at STP
solid

Electron structure

Electron configuration
1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d10 4s2 4p4
Shorthand configuration
[Ar] 3d10 4s2 4p4
Electrons per shell
2, 8, 18, 6
Oxidation states
-2, -1, +1, +2, +3, +4, +5, +6

Physical properties

Melting point
494 K
Boiling point
958 K
Density
4.809 g/cm3
Phase
solid

Atomic properties

Electronegativity (Pauling)
2.55
Atomic radius
103 pm
Covalent radius
120 pm
Van der Waals radius
190 pm
First ionization energy
941 kJ/mol
Electron affinity
195 kJ/mol

Notable isotopes

IsotopeMassAbundanceStability
Se-8079.9165249.61%Stable

Common uses

  • Glass making
  • Electronics
  • Solar cells
  • Supplements

Discovery

Year
1817
Discovered by
Jöns Jacob Berzelius
Country
Sweden

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