Question

Describe anomalous behaviour of oxygen as compared with other elements of group 16 with reference to -
(a) Magnetic property                                        
(b) Oxidation state
(c) Hydrides

Answer 1

a.  Magnetic property : Molecular oxygen (O2) is paramagnetic while other members of group 16 are diamagnetic. 
b. Oxidation state : In most of compounds, oxygen shows −2 oxidation state. It also shows −1 in some compounds. It cannot exhibit higher oxidation state due to absence of vacant d-orbitals. The other group 16 elements show −2, +2, +4 and +6 oxidation states.
c. Hydrides : Water is liquid at room temperature whereas hydrides of other group 16 elements are gases.