It is a white crystalline solid made up of octahedral Te(OH)6 molecules which persist in aqueous solution.

[3] In the solid state, there are two forms, rhombohedral and monoclinic, and both contain octahedral Te(OH)6 molecules,[4] containing one hexavalent tellurium (Te) atom in the +6 oxidation state, attached to six hydroxyl (–OH) groups, thus, it can be called tellurium(VI) hydroxide.

[3] It is an oxidising agent, as shown by the electrode potential for the reaction below, although it is kinetically slow in its oxidations.

[7] Strong heating at over 300 °C produces the α crystalline modification of tellurium trioxide, α-TeO3.

Hydrogen telluride is an unstable gas that forms hydrotelluric acid upon addition to water.