Chalcogens: Elements of the Sixth Main Group

The chalcogens are versatile elements that can occur in numerous oxidation states. Their character ranges from non-metallic (oxygen) to metallic (polonium and livermorium). Sulfur has been known for several thousand years, oxygen, selenium, and tellurium for about 200, polonium for a good 100, and livermorium for already 15 years. So, a rather “old” family of elements? Not at all. The chemistry of these substances is so extensive, there are so many applications, that I can only reproduce the most important things here.