The ultraviolet absorption spectrum of H2Te has a long wavelength tail that extends to 400 nm. Photodissociation at 355 nm yields TeH ((2)Pi(1/2)) selectively relative to the (2)Pi(3/2) ground state; the transition moments for these channels lie in, and perpendicular to, the molecular plane, respectively. Vibrational structure in the region 380-400 urn is consistent with a shallow well in the adiabat leading to (2)Pi(1/2), akin to the one in HI leading to I(P-2(1/2)). These effects have no counterparts with the light Group 6A dihydrides. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.