--%>
Assignment Help - homework help

Explanation of oxygen family.

Group 16 of periodic table contains five elements namely, oxygen (O), sulphur (S), selenium (Se), tellurium (Te) and polonium (Po). These are collectively known as chalcogens or ore forming elements because many metal ores occur as oxides and sulphides. These elements belong to p-block. The first four members of group 16 are non-metals. Polonium has metallic character and is a radioactive element with a very short period.

Oxygen, the most abundant element, is a vital element of atmosphere and ocean. It composes 46.6% of earth's crust. It forms about 21% of air as the free element and 89% of the ocean by weight. Sulphur is less abundant and occurs about 0.052% of the earth's crust. Sulphur is also referred as Brim stone. The name sulphur is derived from Sanskrit word 'Sulveri' which means 'killer of copper'. Compared to oxygen and sulphur the other members of this group are rare.

Atoms of these elements have outer electronic configuration as ns2np4, where n varies from 2 to 6. The electronic configurations of the elements of group 16 are shown in the table below:

Elements

At. No.

Electronic configuration

Abundance in earth's crust (ppm)

Oxygen (O)

8

[He] 2s2 2p4

4.66 × 105

Sulphur (S)

16

[Ne] 3s2 3p4

5.20 × 102

Selenium (Se)

34

[Ar] 3d10 4s2 4p4

9.0 × 10-2

Tellurium (Te)

52

[Kr] 4d10 5s2 5p4

2 × 10-3

Polonium (Po)

84

[Xe] 4f14 5d10 6s2 6p4

-


The four p-electrons of the outermost shell are arranged as px2 py1 pz1. Thus, there are two half-filled p-orbitals which are used for bonding with other elements. From the similar outer electronic configuration of these elements, it is expected that they will show similar physical and chemical properties.

Oxygen the first member of this group has very high ionization energy (1314 kJ mol-1) and differs markedly from other members of the family.

Oxygen, on the other hand, is found to exhibit remarkable resemblance with its neighbours, nitrogen and fluorine. For example, it forms strong pπ-pπ bond like nitrogen. Also it forms hydrogen bonds like nitrogen and fluorine.

   Related Questions in Chemistry

  • Q : Problem on Osmotic Pressure of solution

    The osmotic pressure of a 5% solution of cane sugar at 150oC  is (mol. wt. of cane sugar = 342)(a) 4 atm (b) 3.4 atm (c) 5.07 atm (d) 2.45 atmAnswer: (c) Π = (5 x 0.0821 x 1000 x 423)/(342 x 100) = 5.07 atm

    		•
  • Q : Moles of chloride ion Select the right

    Select the right answer of the question. A solution of CaCl2 is 0.5 mol litre , then the moles of chloride ion in 500ml will be : (a) 0.25 (b) 0.50 (c) 0.75 (d)1.00

    		•
  • Q : Problem on moles of solution The number

    The number of moles of a solute in its solution is 20 and total no. of moles are 80. The mole fraction of solute wil be: (a) 2.5 (b) 0.25 (c) 1 (d) 0.75

    		•
  • Q : Problem on endothermic or exothermic At

    At low temperatures, mixtures of water and methane can form a hydrate (i.e. a solid containing trapped methane). Hydrates are potentially a very large source of underground trapped methane in the pole regions but are a nuisance when they form in pipelines and block th

    		•
  • Q : Neutralization of benzoic acid Choose

    Choose the right answer from following. How many grams of NaOH will be required to neutralize 12.2 grams of benzoic acid : (a) 40gms (b) 4gms (c)16gms (d)12.2gms

    		•
  • Q : Depression in the freezing point When

    When 0.01 mole of sugar is dissolved in 100g of a solvent, the depression in freezing point is 0.40o. When 0.03 mole of glucose is dissolved in 50g of the same solvent, depression in the freezing point will be:(a) 0.60o  (b) 0.80o

    		•
  • Q : Dipole attractions-London dispersion

    Describe how dipole attractions, London dispersion forces and the hydrogen bonding identical?

    		•
  • Q : Explain the catalyst definition and

    Catalyst is a substance which accelerates the rate of a chemical reaction without undergoing any change in its chemical composition or mass during the reaction. The phenomenon of increasing the rate of a reaction with the help of a catalyst is known as catalysis.

    		•
  • Q : Group Cations Explain how dissolving

    Explain how dissolving the Group IV carbonate precipitate with 6M CH3COOH, followed by the addition of extra acetic acid, establishes a buffer with a pH of approximately

    		•
  • Q : Einsteins mass energy relation In

    In Einstein’s mass energy relation e = mc2 for what is c employed or why is light needed for the reactions. As the reactions are with the help of neutrons?

    		•