Question

Anamolous properties of dioxygen

Answer 1

Dioxygen or Oxygen belongs to the group 16 of the modern periodic table. The elements of this group are called as Chalcogens.

Dioxygen shows various anomalous properties and they are as follows:

Explanation:

• Due to it's small size and high electronegativity oxygen forms strong bonds with hydrogen forming which is not found in other elements found in this group.
• In other elements of this group the number of valence shells can be expanded and the covalency can be more than 4, but in case of oxygen the maximum covalency is 4 and it cannot be expanded because of the absence of vacant d orbitals.
• Oxygen is found in free state in the gaseous state, while other elements of this group are solid in free state.
• Oxygen is diatomic and triatomic ( ozone ), while other members of this group are polyatomic like S5, S8, etc.