The redox potential is −1.14 V.[2] Although solutions of the telluride dianion have not been reported, soluble salts of bitelluride (TeH−) are known.

[3] Tellurides also describe a class of organotellurium compounds formally derived from Te2−.

These include natural gold tellurides, like calaverite and krennerite (AuTe2), and sylvanite (AgAuTe4).

(A few other natural compounds of gold, such as the bismuthide maldonite (Au2Bi) and antimonide aurostibite (AuSb2), are known).

Although the bonding in such materials is often fairly covalent, they are described casually as salts of Te2−.