Seleniate (/sɛləneɪt/) is a chemical compound that contains the element selenium in its highest oxidized state. The word is spelled with "seleni" referring to selenium and "-ate" indicating an oxygen-containing anion. The pronunciation includes four syllables, with the stress falling on the "ne" syllable. The IPA phonetic transcription for "seleniate" is /sɛləneɪt/, where /s/ represents the voiceless alveolar sibilant, /ɛ/ is the open-mid front unrounded vowel, /l/ represents the voiced alveolar lateral approximant, /ə/ is the mid-central vowel, /n/ is the voiced alveolar nasal, and /eɪ/ is the diphthong consisting of the near-open front unrounded vowel and the near-open front unrounded vowel.
Seleniate is a term used in chemistry to describe a specific type of chemical compound or ion that contains the element selenium. It is derived from the root word "selenic," which refers to selenium's presence and its chemical properties.
In its chemical formula, a seleniate compound is typically written as SeO4 with a -2 charge, indicating that it consists of a selenium atom bonded to four oxygen atoms. Seleniate compounds are considered inorganic salts due to their ionic nature.
Seleniates can exist in various forms, often as solids or crystalline structures, and they are typically soluble in water. They can be synthesized through various chemical reactions involving selenium compounds and oxygens sources. Seleniate compounds may also be found naturally occurring in certain minerals and ores.
In addition to its usage in chemistry, seleniate is an essential term when studying the role and behavior of selenium in biological systems. Selenium is an important trace element required by living organisms for proper physiological functions. Seleniates, when ingested or absorbed by organisms, can participate in enzymatic reactions and play various roles in cellular metabolism.
While seleniate compounds are generally stable and have useful applications in certain chemical reactions and biological systems, they can also have toxic properties if present in high concentrations. Therefore, understanding the properties and behavior of seleniates is important in fields such as chemistry, biochemistry, and toxicology.
A salt of selenic acid.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
The word "seleniate" is derived from the chemical element "selenium". The term "selenium" originates from the Greek word "selene", meaning "moon". This is because selenium was discovered in 1817 by Jöns Jacob Berzelius, who named it after the moon due to its similarity in color to the moon's light. Therefore, "seleniate" is a word formed by appending the suffix "-ate" to "selenium", indicating a chemical compound containing selenium in the higher oxidation state.