THALLIUM
Symbol: atomic number: mass of the element: Location on the periodic table:
TI 81 204.3833 u group 13 period 6 block P
When freshly exposed to air, thallium exhibits a metallic lustre, but soon develops a bluish-
grey tinge, resembling lead in appearance. A heavy oxide builds up on thallium if left in air,
and in the presence of water the hydroxide is formed. The metal is very soft and malleable.
It can be cut with a knife.The element and its compounds are toxic and should be handled
carefully. Thallium may cause cancer.
Density of solid: 11850 kg m-3
Molar volume: 17.22 cm3
Thermal conductivity: 46 W m-1 K-1
Discovery of the element
William Crookes of the Royal College of Science in London first observed a green line in the
spectrum of some impure sulfuric acid, and realised that it meant a new element. He
announced his discovery in March 1861 in Chemical News. However, he did very little
research into it.
Meanwhile, in 1862, Claude-August Lamy of Lille, France, began to research thallium more
thoroughly. The French Academy now credited him its discovery.
Atomic structure
Thallium has 81 protons, 123 neutrons, and 81 electrons, arranged in the electron
configuration [Xe]4f145d106s26p1; of these, the three outermost electrons in the sixth shell
are valence electrons.
SPDF notation of the element
5d10. 6s2. 6p1 and the term symbol is 2P1/2.
Chemical reactivity of the element
Freshy cut thallium tarnishes slowly to give a grey oxide film that protects the remaining
metal from further oxidation. When heated strongly to red heat in air, poisonous thallium(I)
oxide is formed.
Thallium dissolves in water to give poisonous thallium(I) hydroxide.
Thallium metal reacts vigorously with fluorine, F2, chlorine, Cl2, and bromine, Br2, to form
the dihalides thallium(III) fluoride, TlF3, thallium(III) chloride, TlCl3, thallium(III) bromide,
TlBr3, respectively. All these compounds are poisonous.
Thallium dissolves only slowly in sulphuric acid, H2SO4, or hydrochloric acid, HCl, because
the poisonous thallium(I) salts produced are not very soluble.
Biological role of the element
Thallium has no biological role. It is very toxic and there is evidence that the vapour is both
teratogenic (disturbs the development of an embryo or foetus) and carcinogenic. It can also
displace potassium around the body affecting the central nervous system.
Uses of the element
The sulphate was widely used as a rodenticide and ant killer. It is odourless and tasteless,
giving no warning of its presence
The electrical conductivity of thallium sulphide changes with exposure to infrared light, and
so it is used in photocells
Thallium bromide-iodide crystals are used as infrared detectors
Used, with sulphur or selenium and arsenic, to produce low melting glasses which become
fluid between 125 and 150°C
Originally used in treating ringworm and other skin infections. Its use was limited because of
the narrow margin between toxicity and therapeutic benefits
A mercury-thallium alloy, which forms a eutectic at 8.5% thallium, freezes at -60°C, some
20° below the freezing point of mercury
References:
WebElements, https://www.webelements.com/thallium/chemistry.html,
date accessed 3/25/23
royal society of chemistry, https://www.rsc.org/periodic-table/element/81/thallium
date accessed 3/25/23
