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A chemical element of the oxygen group, commonly known as a chalcogen, is any of the six chemical elements that make up Group 16 (VIa) of the periodic classification, which are oxygen (O), sulphur (S), selenium (Se), tellurium (Te), polonium (Po), and livermorium (Lv). Since the discovery of polonium in 1898, scientists have recognized a connection between the first three members of the group. Tellurium was awarded its position in the group in 1865, and polonium was discovered in 1829. In a particle accelerator, a team of Russian and American physicists discovered livermorium, the sixth member of Group 16, in the year 2000.
Natural occurrences and applications
Estimates of the relative abundances of the various types of atoms in the universe place oxygen fourth in abundance, behind hydrogen, helium, and neon. However, the significance of such a ranking is minimal, given that hydrogen atoms account for nearly 94 per cent of the total and helium for the vast majority of the rest of the universe. Only about 0.5 per cent of the universe’s mass is made up of oxygen atoms, but because the mass of an oxygen atom is approximately 16 times that of a hydrogen atom, oxygen makes up a higher proportion of the universe’s mass than hydrogen does, though still only about 0.5 percent. However, in the zones normally accessible to man—that is, within a few kilometres of the Earth’s surface—oxygen is the most plentiful element: it accounts for around 20% of the air, approximately 46% of the Earth’s solid crust, and approximately 89 percent of the water on the planet.
Oxygen
The chemical element oxygen (O) is a nonmetallic chemical element belonging to Group 16 (VIa, sometimes known as the oxygen group) of the periodic table. Animals take up oxygen and convert it to carbon dioxide, which plants then use as a source of carbon and return the oxygen to the atmosphere. Oxygen is a colourless, odourless, and tasteless gas that is essential to all living organisms. It is taken up by animals and converted to carbon dioxide by plants, which then return the oxygen to the atmosphere. Oxygen forms compounds through reactions with virtually any other element, as well as through reactions that displace elements from their combinations with one another; in many cases, these reactions are accompanied by the evolution of heat and light, and these processes are referred to as combustions. Oxygen forms compounds through reactions with virtually any other element, as well as through reactions that displace elements from their combinations with one another. Water is the most important compound in it.
Sulphur
A nonmetallic chemical element belonging to the oxygen group (Group 16 [VIa] of the periodic table), sulphur (S) is one of the most reactive of the elements. It is also known as sulphur. Pure sulphur is a tasteless, odourless, brittle solid that is pale yellow in colour and is a poor conductor of electricity. It is also insoluble in water and has no detectable odour or flavour. It reacts with all metals, with the exception of gold and platinum, to generate sulphides; it also reacts with a number of nonmetallic elements to form compounds. Every year, millions of tonnes of sulphur are generated, the majority of which is utilised in the production of sulfuric acid, which is widely used in industry.
A pale yellow crystalline solid, sulphur occurs under ordinary conditions and has no metallic properties. It has no odour or taste and is flammable, but is not soluble in water. Sulfur is a chemical element. The chemical symbol for this compound is S. It reacts with all metals, with the exception of gold and platinum, to generate sulphides; it also reacts with a number of nonmetallic elements to form compounds. Every year, several million tonnes of sulphur are produced, the majority of which is utilised in the production of sulfuric acid, which is widely used in industry.
Selenium
Selenium is found in two forms: as a grey allotropic substance and as a red allotropic material. Despite having a low electrical conductivity in the dark, the grey material’s conductivity increases considerably when exposed to light. This feature is exploited in “selenium cells,” which are light sensors for use in control applications that use light sensors.
The element selenium (symbol Se) is significantly rarer than the elements oxygen and sulphur, and it only makes up around 90 parts per billion of the Earth’s crust. Occasionally, it can be discovered alone, in the presence of native sulphur, although it is more frequently found in association with heavy metals (such as copper, mercury, lead, or silver) in a small number of minerals. The most important commercial source of selenium is as a by-product of copper refining; its most important applications are in the production of electrical equipment, the production of pigments, and the production of glass. The grey, metallic form of the element is the most stable under normal conditions; nevertheless, when exposed to light, this form has the odd trait of significantly increasing electrical conductivity. In addition to being dangerous to mammals, selenium compounds can accumulate in plants cultivated in seleniferous soils, causing them to become poisoned.
Conclusion
The chemical element oxygen (O) is a nonmetallic chemical element belonging to Group 16 (VIa, sometimes known as the oxygen group) of the periodic table. Oxygen accounts for around 20% of the air, 46% of Earth’s solid crust, and 89% of the water on the planet. Sulphur is a nonmetallic chemical element belonging to the oxygen group (Group 16 [VIa] of the periodic table. It reacts with all metals, with the exception of gold and platinum, to generate sulphides. Every year millions of tonnes of sulphur are generated, most of which are used in the production of sulfuric acid. Selenium (symbol Se) is significantly rarer than the elements oxygen and sulphur. It only makes up around 90 parts per billion of the Earth’s crust. Selenium compounds can accumulate in plants cultivated in seleniferous soils, causing them to become poisoned.
