--%>
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 : Basic concept Give me answer of this

    Give me answer of this question. The volume of water to be added to 100cm3 of 0.5 N N H2SO4 to get decinormal concentration is : (a) 400 cm3 (b) 500cm3 (c) 450cm3 (d)100cm3

    		•
  • Q : Question of vapour pressure Choose the

    Choose the right answer from following. Vapour pressure of a solution is: (a) Directly proportional to the mole fraction of the solvent (b) Inversely proportional to the mole fraction of the solute (c) Inversely proportional to the mole fraction of the solvent (d

    		•
  • Q : Molarity Give me answer of this

    Give me answer of this question. If 20ml of 0.4N, NaoH solution completely neutralises 40ml of a dibasic acid. The molarity of the acid solution is:(a) 0.1M (b) 0.2M (c)0.3M (d)0.4M

    		•
  • Q : Problem on reversible process a. For a

    a. For a reversible process involving ideal gases in a closed system, Illustrate thatΔS = Cv ln(T2/T1) for a constant volume process ΔS = Cp ln(T2/T1) for a constant pressu

    		•
  • Q : Decinormal concentration of Sulfuric

    Give me answer of this question. The volume of water to be added to 100cm3 of 0.5 N N H2SO4 to get decinormal concentration is : (a) 400 cm3 (b) 500cm3 (c) 450cm3 (d)100cm3

    		•
  • Q : Problem based on molarity Select the

    Select the right answer of the question. If 18 gm of glucose (C6H12O6) is present in 1000 gm of an aqueous solution of glucose, it is said to be: (a)1 molal (b)1.1 molal (c)0.5 molal (d)0.1 molal

    		•
  • Q : Problem based on molecular weight

    Select the right answer of the question. Molecular weight of urea is 60. A solution of urea containing 6g urea in one litre is : (a)1 molar (b)1.5 molar (c) 0.1 molar (d) 0.01 molar

    		•
  • Q : Basic concepts Determination of correct

    Determination of correct mol. Mass from Roult's law is applicable to :

    		•
  • Q : Thermodynamics I) Sulphur dioxide (SO2)

    I) Sulphur dioxide (SO2) with a volumetric flow rate 5000cm3/s at 1 bar and 1000C is mixed with a second SO2 stream flowing at 2500cm3/s at 2 bar and 200C. The process occurs at steady state. You may assume ideal gas behaviour. For SO2 take the heat capacity at constant pressure to be CP/R = 3.267

    		•
  • Q : Group IV Cations Chromium(III)

    Chromium(III) hydroxide is highly insoluble in distilled water but dissolves readily in either acidic or basic solution. Briefly explain why the compound can dissolve in acidic or in basic but not in neutral solution. Write appropriate equations to support your answer.

    		•