What does chalcogen mean?
A chalcogen is any of the five chemical elements occupying group 16 of the periodic table: oxygen, sulfur, selenium, tellurium, and polonium. The term comes from the Greek words chalkos, meaning copper, and genes, meaning forming, reflecting the fact that these elements commonly occur in nature combined with copper and other metals in mineral ores. Chalcogens share characteristic chemistry: they each have six valence electrons, typically form compounds in which they gain or share two electrons, and readily combine with metals to form salts known as chalcogenides. The word is chiefly a technical term, appearing in chemistry, materials science, and semiconductor research rather than everyday speech. In practice, scientists sometimes use it mainly for the heavier members of the group, since oxygen's behaviour is unusually distinctive. Knowing the term is valuable for anyone reading modern scientific literature on semiconductors, glass, or mineralogy.
nounAny of the chemical elements in group 16 of the periodic table — oxygen, sulfur, selenium, tellurium, and polonium.
- Any of the group 16 elements of the periodic table: oxygen, sulfur, selenium, tellurium, and polonium.
"Selenium, a chalcogen found just below sulfur in the periodic table, is essential in trace amounts for human health."
"Tellurium is one of the rarest stable elements among the chalcogens."
"In semiconductor research, chalcogens such as sulfur and selenium are prized for their ability to form useful compounds with metals."
Regular plural; used when referring collectively to two or more group 16 elements.
"The heavier chalcogens are increasingly important in photovoltaic materials."
The name literally means 'copper-former' — because sulfur and its group-mates are so often found bonded to copper in ores like chalcopyrite.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of chalcogen
The word 'chalcogen' derives from the Greek chalkos, meaning copper or bronze, combined with the suffix -gen, meaning producing or forming. It was coined to describe the group 16 elements because they so frequently occur in copper ores such as chalcopyrite, a copper iron sulfide. The same Greek root gives us related scientific terms including chalcolithic, the archaeological name for the Copper Age, and chalcopyrite itself. The word entered scientific English in the twentieth century as the systematic naming of periodic-table groups became standard.
Related word forms
How chalcogen is actually used
A technical term used almost exclusively in chemistry, physics, and materials science; it would rarely appear in general conversation. The term most commonly refers to the heavier members of the group (sulfur, selenium, tellurium), since oxygen is sometimes treated separately due to its distinctive behaviour.
Easily confused with chalcogen
A halogen is an element of group 17 (fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine, astatine), whereas a chalcogen is an element of group 16.