Group 16 consist of 5 elements that are : Oxygen(O) Sulphur(S) Selenium(Se) Tellurium(Te) Polonium(Po)

This family is known as oxygen family.

Element

Atomic number Electronic configuration

Oxygen Sulphur Selenium Tellurium Polonium

8 16 34 52 84

[He] 2s2 2p4 [Ne] 3s2 3p4 [Ar] 3d10, 4s2 4p4 [Kr] 4d10, 5s2 5p4 [Xe] 4f14, 5d10, 6s2 6p4

These elements(except polonium) are ore forming elements and thus called chalcogens.

 Oxygen is gas while others are solid at room

temperature. Oxygen molecule is diatomic while molecule of other are more complex (exist as 8 atom ring).

s s

s s

s
s

Metallic character increases down the group. Oxygen & Sulphur are non-metals. Selenium & Tellurium are metalloids. Polonium is metal.

Group 16 elements shows oxidation states of -2, +2, +4, +6. Oxygen only shows -2 and +2 due to absence of dorbitals. -2 and +6 oxidation state decreases down the group. +4 oxidation state increases down the group.

Se

Te

Po

Atomic Radii increase from Oxygen to Polonium Ionisation Enthalpy decrease from Oxygen to Polonium

Electronegativity decrease from Oxygen to Polonium

All the elements of group 16 form hydrides of type H2M type where M is O, S, Se, Te & Po.

Water is colourless, odourless liquid while other hydrides are colourless, poisonous gases with bad smell.

All the elements of group 16 form hydrides of type MO2, MO3 where M is O, S, Se, Te & Po.
Elements O S Dioxides(MO2) -SO2 Trioxide(MO3) O3 SO3

Se
Te Po

SeO2
TeO2 PoO2

SeO3
TeO3 PoO3

Dioxides
SO2 and SeO2 are acidic oxides and are soluble in water. TeO2 and PoO2 are insoluble in water. These are amphoteric oxides as they dissolve in both acids and bases.

Trioxides
SO2 and SeO2 and TeO2 are acidic oxides and are soluble in water. Acidic nature decreases down the group.

Group 16 form a large no of halides of type EX6, EX4 and EX2 .

Stability of halides decreases in order

->Cl->Br->IF

Hexahalides
Among all the hexahalides hexafluoride are only stable halides. They have octahedral structure.

TetraFluorides
SF 4 is gas, SeF 4 s liquid and TeF 4 is a solid. These fluorides have sp3d hybridisation. These have tetrahedral structures.

 Oxygen is gas while others are solids. Oxygen is diatomic while rest are complex molecule. Oxygen is highly non-mettalic due to high value of electronegativity.