Question

Group 16 elements are called:
(A) Carbon family
(B) Chalcogen family
(C) Halogen family
(D) Nitrogen family

Answer 1

Hint: Group-16 in the periodic table involves elements like oxygen and sulphur and selenium. Their name is derived from the word used in Greek for the certain ores of the Copper element.

Complete step by step solution:
Let’s know some basic information about group-16 in the periodic table.
-We know that there are a total of 18 groups in the periodic table. Group-16 is the third column from the right side in the periodic table.
-All group- 16 elements are situated in the p-block of the periodic table. That means that the valence electron is filled in the p-orbital of the element.
-In group-18 elements, the p-orbital is full. In group-17 orbitals, there are a total of 5 electrons in the valence p-orbital. So, in group-16 elements, there are a total of 4 electrons present in the valence p-orbitals.
-So, the elements present in the group-16 are oxygen (O), sulphur (S), Selenium (Se), Tellurium (Te), etc.
-We can call group-16 elements as oxygen family also but that name is not given in the options.
-Group-16 elements are also called chalcogens. They are called so because most of the copper ores have copper in the form of oxides and sulphides. They also contain small amounts of selenium and tellurium. The ores of copper are called ‘chalcos’ in Greek. So, group-16 elements are named chalcogens.

Thus, the correct answer is (B).

Note: Note that Polonium is the only radioactive element in the group-16 of the periodic table. Remember that oxygen, sulphur and selenium are nonmetals. Tellurium is considered as a metalloid.