A simple interpretation of Te-125 Mossbauer data of solids based on a
chemical bonding analysis is presented. From new measurements of the M
ossbauer spectra for different compounds a scale of the isomer shifts
is obtained. A qualitative analysis of this scale is proposed. A semi-
quantitative approach based on a tight-binding calculation provides in
formation on the electronic configuration of Te in the solids, The res
ults of this calculation are correlated with the values of the isomer
shift and the oxidation states for tellurium oxides.