How Is Sodium Telluride Prepared?

Sodium telluride can be prepared by reacting elemental sodium with tellurium powder in a sealed vessel under an inert gas atmosphere, typically argon. This reaction is exothermic and produces sodium telluride as a grayish or black solid. The product can then be purified through washing with solvents such as diethyl ether or ethanol to remove any impurities. It is important to handle sodium telluride with caution as it is highly reactive and can release toxic hydrogen telluride gas upon contact with water or acids.