1. Any of the chemical elements in Group 16 of the periodic table, including oxygen, sulfur, selenium, tellurium, and polonium, characterized by having six valence electrons.
Usage: chemistry; technical

Examples

• Oxygen is the most common chalcogen found in nature.
• Sulfur is a chalcogen used in the production of sulfuric acid.
• The chalcogens are highly electronegative elements.
• Selenium, another chalcogen, is essential for human health in small amounts.
• Chalcogens readily form compounds with metals and nonmetals.