TRENDS OF A PERIODIC TABLE

– GROUP VI / GROUP 16

Elements:

Oxygen, O

Sulfur, S

Selenium, Se

Tellurium, Te

Polonium, Po
General Introduction to the Elements

Oxygen Sulfur Selenium

Tellurium Polonium
General Properties
 Key Properties

Atomic and Ionic Radii

Melting and Boiling Points

Ionisation Energies

Electronegativity

Electron Affinity
 Atomic and Ionic Radii

Trend:

The atomic and ionic radii of the elements of this

group increase as we go down the group.

Explanation:

This is due to the increase in the number of electron

shells.
 Melting and Boiling Points

Trend:

The melting and boiling points increase with the increase in atomic
number as we go down the group.

Explanation:

When we move down the group, the molecular size increases. As a

result, the magnitude of the Van der Waals forces also increases with
increase in atomic number and therefore melting point also increases.

Exception:

Polonium, however, has a low melting point.

 Ionisation Energies
Trends:
As we move down the group from oxygen to polonium, the
ionization energy decreases.
Explanation:
As one moves down a group there is increase in nuclear charge.
At the same time the atomic radius as well as the number of inner
electrons, which shield the valence electrons from the nucleus increase.
The overall effect of increase in atomic size and the shielding effect
is much more than effect of increase in nuclear charge.
Consequently, the electrostatic force of attraction between the nucleus
and the valence electrons decreases and hence ionization energy
decreases.
 Electronegativity
Trend
The electronegativity decreases on going down the group.
Explanation:
This is due to increase in size of the atoms.
Electronegativity is defined as the ability of an atom to attract
electrons towards itself.
Even though as we go down the group, the charge of the nucleus
increase, the distance between the nucleus and the valence shell
increases too. Furthermore, there are more electrons between the
nucleus and the valence shell, creating a shielding effect.
Hence, the electronegativity decreases as we go down the
group.
 Electron Affinity

Trend:

The elements of this family have high electron affinities. The

values decrease down the group from sulphur to polonium.

Exception:

Oxygen unexpectedly has low electron affinity.

Explanation:

This is attributed to the small size of oxygen atom so that its

electron cloud is distributed over a small region of space and
therefore, it repels the incoming electron. Thus, the electron
affinity of oxygen is unexpectedly less in the family.
 Bibliography

http
://www.rsc.org/chemsoc/visualelements/pages/data/int
ro_groupvi_data.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronegativity

http://www.tutorvista.com/content/chemistry/chemistr
y-iv/p-block-elements/chalcogens-physical-properties.
php