The chalcogens, or Group 16 elements, encompass oxygen, sulfur, selenium, tellurium, polonium, and livermorium. These elements are known for their six valence electrons and common oxidation state of -2, although they can also exhibit positive oxidation states. They form a wide range of compounds, including oxides, metal chalcogenides, and hydrides, and have significant roles in both natural processes and technological applications. Their physical and chemical properties vary, with trends in melting and boiling points, atomic radii, and ionization energies observed across the group.
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The chalcogens are a family of elements found in Group 16 of the Periodic Table
Physical States and Characteristics
The chalcogens display a variety of physical states and characteristics, including a trend of increasing melting and boiling points and decreasing ionization energies as one descends the group
Chemical Characteristics and Oxidation States
The chalcogens have six valence electrons and commonly exhibit an oxidation state of -2, but can also display positive oxidation states due to their larger atomic sizes
Formation of Compounds
Chalcogens form a diverse array of compounds, including oxides, organic compounds, and metal chalcogenides, through reactions with other elements
The chalcogens have diverse applications in both nature and technology, ranging from agriculture to industrial processes
Oxygen is a diatomic gas under standard conditions and is essential for many biological processes
Sulfur is a relatively soft solid and is used in a variety of industrial processes, including the production of sulfuric acid
Selenium is a solid with a metallic luster and is used in the production of glass and electronics
Tellurium is a solid with a metallic luster and is used in the production of solar panels and thermoelectric devices
Polonium is a dense, highly radioactive metal and has limited industrial uses due to its instability and rarity
Livermorium is an artificially created element and its characteristics are largely unknown
Chalcogens bond with oxygen to form a variety of oxides, depending on their oxidation states
Chalcogens can substitute for oxygen in organic compounds, creating thiols, selenols, tellurols, and their corresponding ethers and ketones
Chalcogens react with metals to form metal chalcogenides, which have various applications in industries such as agriculture and pyrotechnics
Chalcogens react with hydrogen to form hydrides, with tellurium and polonium hydrides being particularly volatile
Chalcogens react with halogens to form chalcohalides, which are commonly used as reagents in chemical synthesis
00
The ______, including elements like oxygen and sulfur, belong to Group 16 on the ______.
chalcogens
Periodic Table
01
State of oxygen vs other chalcogens at room temp
Oxygen is a diatomic gas, others are solid.
02
Conductivity and appearance of sulfur, selenium, tellurium
Poor conductors; sulfur and selenium are non-metallic, tellurium has metallic luster.
