Which group of elements is called chalcogens?

1. Which group of elements is called chalcogens? +

Answer

Group 16 — Chalcogens

Concept & Explanation

The elements of Group 16 of the modern periodic table are called Chalcogens.

The general valence-shell electronic configuration of these elements is:

ns²np⁴

The name Chalcogens means "ore-forming elements", because several members of this group occur in important metal ores.

Practical Periodic Table View

The main members of Group 16 are shown below. Hover over an element to see the interactive effect.

O Oxygen Z = 8

S Sulfur Z = 16

Se Selenium Z = 34

Te Tellurium Z = 52

Po Polonium Z = 84

Lv Livermorium Z = 116

Key Point for Competitive Exams

Group: 16
Block: p-block
Valence configuration: ns²np⁴
Valence electrons: 6
Family: Chalcogens
First member: Oxygen (O)
Last known member: Livermorium (Lv)

30 Related MCQs with Solutions

1. Which group of elements is called chalcogens?

A. Group 14

B. Group 15

C. Group 16

D. Group 17

Answer: C. Group 16
Group 16 elements are collectively known as chalcogens.

2. What is the general valence-shell configuration of Group 16 elements?

A. ns²np²

B. ns²np³

C. ns²np⁴

D. ns²np⁵

Answer: C. ns²np⁴
Group 16 elements possess six valence electrons.

3. How many valence electrons do chalcogens generally have?

A. 4

B. 5

C. 6

D. 7

Answer: C. 6
ns² + np⁴ gives a total of six valence electrons.

4. Which is the first member of the chalcogen family?

A. Nitrogen

B. Oxygen

C. Sulfur

D. Fluorine

Answer: B. Oxygen
Oxygen is the first element of Group 16.

5. Which element belongs to Group 16?

A. N

B. O

C. F

D. Ne

Answer: B. O
Oxygen is a Group 16 element.

6. Sulfur belongs to which group?

A. 14

B. 15

C. 16

D. 17

Answer: C. 16
Sulfur is a Group 16 chalcogen.

7. Which of the following is NOT a chalcogen?

A. O

B. S

C. Se

D. Cl

Answer: D. Cl
Chlorine belongs to Group 17, the halogen family.

8. Chalcogens belong to which block?

A. s-block

B. p-block

C. d-block

D. f-block

Answer: B. p-block
Group 16 is part of the p-block.

9. Which of the following is selenium?

A. Se

B. Te

C. Po

D. Lv

Answer: A. Se
Se is the symbol for selenium.

10. Which of these is a chalcogen with atomic number 52?

A. Se

B. Te

C. Po

D. S

Answer: B. Te
Tellurium has atomic number 52.

11. Polonium belongs to:

A. Group 15

B. Group 16

C. Group 17

D. Group 18

Answer: B. Group 16
Polonium is a Group 16 element.

12. Livermorium has the symbol:

A. Lr

B. Lv

C. Li

D. Lm

Answer: B. Lv
Livermorium is represented by Lv.

13. Which chalcogen is a metalloid?

A. Oxygen

B. Sulfur

C. Tellurium

D. Polonium

Answer: C. Tellurium
Tellurium is commonly classified as a metalloid.

14. Which chalcogen is a non-metal?

A. Oxygen

B. Polonium

C. Tellurium

D. Livermorium

Answer: A. Oxygen
Oxygen is a non-metallic chalcogen.

15. The chalcogen family is located in:

A. Group 13

B. Group 14

C. Group 15

D. Group 16

Answer: D. Group 16
Chalcogens occupy Group 16.

16. Oxygen has how many valence electrons?

A. 4

B. 5

C. 6

D. 7

Answer: C. 6
Oxygen has electronic configuration 1s²2s²2p⁴.

17. Which element has the configuration 3s²3p⁴?

A. P

B. S

C. Cl

D. Si

Answer: B. S
3s²3p⁴ corresponds to sulfur, a Group 16 element.

18. Chalcogens generally tend to gain how many electrons to complete the octet?

A. 1

B. 2

C. 3

D. 4

Answer: B. 2
They have six valence electrons and generally require two more electrons.

19. The common monatomic ion of sulfur is:

A. S⁺

B. S²⁺

C. S⁻

D. S²⁻

Answer: D. S²⁻
Sulfur commonly gains two electrons to form sulfide ion.

20. The term "chalcogen" is associated with:

A. Salt formation only

B. Ore formation

C. Noble gas formation

D. Hydrogen bonding

Answer: B. Ore formation
The name comes from Greek roots associated with ore-forming elements.

21. Which pair contains only chalcogens?

A. O, S

B. N, O

C. S, Cl

D. Se, Br

Answer: A. O, S
Both oxygen and sulfur belong to Group 16.

22. Which chalcogen has atomic number 34?

A. S

B. Se

C. Te

D. Po

Answer: B. Se
Selenium has atomic number 34.

23. Which chalcogen has atomic number 84?

A. Te

B. Po

C. Se

D. Lv

Answer: B. Po
Polonium has atomic number 84.

24. Which group lies immediately to the left of the halogens?

A. Group 15

B. Group 16

C. Group 17

D. Group 18

Answer: B. Group 16
Halogens are Group 17, so Group 16 lies immediately to their left.

25. Which element has six electrons in its valence shell?

A. C

B. N

C. O

D. F

Answer: C. O
Oxygen is a Group 16 element with six valence electrons.

26. Which of the following has the highest electronegativity among the common chalcogens?

A. O

B. S

C. Se

D. Te

Answer: A. O
Electronegativity generally decreases down Group 16.

27. Atomic radius generally increases down the chalcogen group because:

A. Nuclear charge decreases

B. New electron shells are added

C. Electrons disappear

D. Valence electrons decrease

Answer: B. New electron shells are added
Additional shells increase the size of atoms down the group.

28. Which is the correct decreasing order of electronegativity?

A. O > S > Se > Te

B. Te > Se > S > O

C. S > O > Te > Se

D. Se > Te > O > S

Answer: A. O > S > Se > Te
Electronegativity decreases down the group.

29. Which statement about Group 16 is correct?

A. It contains only metals

B. It contains only noble gases

C. It contains elements showing a transition from non-metallic to more metallic character

D. It is the halogen family

Answer: C
Metallic character generally increases down Group 16.

30. Which combination correctly represents Group 16?

A. O, S, Se, Te, Po, Lv

B. F, Cl, Br, I, At

C. N, P, As, Sb, Bi

D. C, Si, Ge, Sn, Pb

Answer: A. O, S, Se, Te, Po, Lv
These elements constitute Group 16, the chalcogen family.

Advertisement