Dissociation Energies of Group VIa Gaseous Homonuclear Diatomic Molecules. III. Tellurium

Abstract

The dissociation energy of Te₂(g) has been determined by the simultaneous Knudsen‐torsion effusion method. The equilibrium, Te₂(g)⇄2Te(g), has been studied with a double‐oven alumina effusion cell; one oven contained elemental tellurium and supplied vapor to the hot oven from which effusion occurred. The value of $D_0°$ found in this study is 61.3 ± 1.1 kcal/mole. The electronic ground state of Te₂(g) is most probably nondegenerate.