What element has the symbol 'Te'?

The story behind the answer

Te stands for Tellurium. It’s a metalloid (atomic number 52) whose name comes from the Latin “tellus,” meaning Earth—think “Te = telluric/earthy.” By contrast, Technetium is Tc, Terbium is Tb, and Tennessine is Ts, so their symbols don’t match Te.

Tellurium is used in semiconductors and thermoelectric devices, and in cadmium telluride (CdTe) solar cells. It was first identified in the 1780s and later named by Martin Heinrich Klaproth. Memory tip: “Te tells of the Earth” (telluric), or “Te-llurium tells you it’s from tellus.” Remembering the oddballs helps too: Technetium (Tc) is the first artificially produced element, Terbium (Tb) is a lanthanide, and Tennessine (Ts) is a superheavy synthetic element—leaving Te clearly for Tellurium.