They may be obtained directly from the elements in liquid ammonia or when air is not present, and are colourless, water-soluble compounds that air oxidises quickly back to selenium or tellurium.
ðeɪ mˈeɪ biː əbtˈeɪnd dᵻɹˈɛktli fɹʌmðɪ ˈɛlɪmənts ɪn lˈɪkwɪd æmˈoʊniə ɔːɹ wɛn ˈɛɹ ɪz nˌɑːt pɹˈɛzənt, ænd ɑːɹ kˈʌlɚləs, wˈɔːɾɚsˈɑːljuːbəl kˈɑːmpaʊndz ðæt ˈɛɹ ˈɑːksɪdˌaɪzᵻz kwˈɪkli bˈæk tə sɛlˈiːniəm ɔːɹ tɛlˈʊɹɹiəm.