Group 6A of the periodic table, also known as the chalcogens, includes the elements oxygen (O), sulfur (S), selenium (Se), tellurium (Te), and polonium (Po). These elements are found in the 16th column of the periodic table.
The chalcogens typically form ions with a charge of -2. This is because they have six valence electrons and need two additional electrons to achieve a stable octet configuration. For example, when oxygen forms an ion, it often gains two electrons to become O2-. Similarly, sulfur forms S2- ions.
While these elements can also exhibit other oxidation states, including positive states such as +4 and +6 in some compounds, their most common ionic form is indeed -2. Understanding these charges is essential for predicting the behavior of these elements in chemical reactions.