When Was Selenium Discovered?

Selenium is a chemical element with the symbol Se and atomic number 34. It is a nonmetal with properties that are intermediate between the elements above and below in the periodic table, sulfur and tellurium, and also has similarities to arsenic.

How was selenium discovered?

Selenium was discovered by Jöns Jacob Berzelius at Stockholm in 1817. He had shares in a sulfuric acid works and he was intrigued by a red-brown sediment which collected at the bottom of the chambers in which the acid was made.

Where is selenium found in nature?

While rare, selenium is normally found in minerals. Of the lesser members in the sulfur family, selenium is the most abundant in nature, often found in copper and lead mining.