Selenium

What is Selenium?

Selenium is a special kind of material called a chemical element. It has the symbol Se and atomic number 34. Selenium can look like a brick-red powder, a dark solid, or a grey material. It was discovered in 1817 by Jöns Jacob Berzelius, a scientist from Sweden.

Where Do We Find Selenium?

We often find selenium mixed with rocks that have metals like copper, nickel, or lead. It is usually made as a byproduct when these metals are cleaned and made pure. Pure selenium minerals are rare, so it is usually taken from materials left over after making metals.

Uses of Selenium

Selenium has many useful jobs. One big way it is used is in glassmaking. Adding selenium to glass can give it a red color and help remove unwanted green or yellow colors. It is also used to make colorful pigments for paints. Selenium can work as a semiconductor, which means it can help control electricity. It is used in special photocells that turn light into electricity.

Selenium and Our Health

A tiny amount of selenium is important for living things, including humans. It helps in important processes inside our bodies. Selenium is added to many multivitamins and infant formula to keep us healthy. Plants also need different amounts of selenium to grow well. Foods like meat, nuts, cereals, mushrooms, and Brazil nuts contain selenium. Our bodies need just a small amount each day to stay healthy.