Justify the placement of O, S, Se, Te and Po in the same group'of the periodic table in terms of electronic configuration, oxidation state and hydride formation.
(1)Electronic configuration:
O (At. no. = 8) = [He] 2s2 2p4
S (At. no. = 16) = [Ne] 3s2 3p4
Se (At. no. = 34) = [Ar] 3d10 4s2 4p4
Te (At. no. = 52) = [Kr] 4d10 5s2 5p4 ,
Po (At. no. = 84) = [Xe] 4f14 5d10 6s2 6p4 ,
Thus, all these elements have the same ns2 np4 (n = 2 to 6) valence shell electronic configuration, hence are justified to be placed in group 16 of the Periodic Table.
(2)Oxidation state : Two more electrons are needed to acquire the nearest noble gas configuration. Thus, the minimum oxidation state of these elements should be – 2. O and to some extent S show – 2 oxidation state. Other element being more electropositive than O and S, do not show negative oxidation state. As these contain six electrons, thus, maximum oxidation state shown by them is+ 6. Other oxidation state shown by them are + 2 and + 4. O do not show+4 and + 6 oxidation state, due to the absence of d-orbitals. Thus, on the basis of maximum and minimum oxidation states, these elements are justified to be placed in the same group 16 of the periodic table.
(3)Hydride formation: All these elements share two of their valence electrons with 1 s- orbital of hydrogen to form hydrides of the general formula EH2, i.e., H20, H2S, H2Se, H2Te and H2Po. Thus, on the basis of hydride formation, these elements are justified to be placed in the same group 16 of the Periodic Table.
Why is BiH3 the strongest reducing agent amongst all the hydrides of group 15 elements? (C.B.S.E. 2013)
Which of the following statements are correct?
(a) Among halogens, radius ratio between iodine and fluorine is maximum.
(b) Leaving F – F bond, all halogens have weaker X – X bond than X – X’ bond in interhalogens.
(c) Among interhalogen compounds maximum number of atoms ate present in iodine fluoride.
(d) Interhalogen compounds are more reactive than halogen compounds.
Explain why does the stability of oxoacids of chlorine increase in the order given below:
HClO < HClO2 < HClO3 < HClO4
Justify the placement of O, S, Se, Te and Po in the same group’of the periodic table in terms of electronic configuration, oxidation state and hydride formation.
Name three oxoacids of nitrogen. Write the disproportionation reaction of that oxoacid of nitrogen in which nitrogen is in +3 oxidation state.
Assertion (A): HNO3 makes from passive.
Reason (R): HNO3 forms a protective layer of ferric nitrate on the surface of iron.
Which of the following statements are correct for SO2 gas?
(a) It acts as a bleaching agent in moist conditions.
(b) Its molecule has a linear geometry.
(c) Its dilute solution is used as disinfectant.
(d) It can be prepared by the reaction of dilute H2SO4 with metal sulphide.
On heating compound (A) gives a gas (B) which is a constituent of air. This gas when treated with 3 mol of hydrogen (H2 ) in the presence of a catalyst gives another gas (C) which is basic in nature. Gas C on further oxidation in moist condition gives a compound (D) which is a part of acid rain. Identify compounds (A) to (D) and also give necessary equations of all the steps involved. –
Reduction potentials of some ions are given below. Arrange them in decreasing order of oxidizing power.

Comment on the nature of two S-O bonds formed in S02 molecule. Are the two S-O bonds in this molecule equal ?
How is nitrogen prepared in the laboratory? Write the chemical equations of the reactions . involved.
Which of the following orders are correct as per the properties mentioned against each?

In the ring test of NO3 ion.Fe2+ion reduces nitrate ion to nitric oxide, which combines with Fe2+ (aq.) ion to form brown complex. Write the reactions involved in the formation of brown ring.
With which neutral molecule is ClO– isoelectronic? Is this molecule Lewis acid or base ? (Pb. Board 2009)
Arrange the following in the order of property indicated for each set: –
(i) F2 , Cl2 , Br2 , I2 – increasing bond dissociation enthalpy.
(ii) HF, HCI, HBr, HI – increasing acid . strength.
(iii) NH3, PH3, AsH3, SbH3, BiH3 – increasing Sol. base strength.
Why is BiH3 the strongest reducing agent amongst all the hydrides of Group 15 elements?
Discuss the general characteristics of Group 15 elements with reference to their electronic configuration, oxidation state, atomic size, ionisation enthalpy and electronegativity.
Explain why inspite of nearly the same electronegativity, nitrogen forms hydrogen bonding while chlorine does not.
Which of the following statements are correct?
(a) All three N – O bond lengths in HNO3 are equal.
(b) All P – Cl bond lengths in PCl5 molecule in gaseous state are equal.
(c) P4 molecule in white phosphorus have angular strain therefore white phosphorus is very reactive.
(d) PCl5 is ionic in solid state in which cation is tetrahedral and anion is octahedral.
On reaction with Cl2, phosphorus forms two types of halides ‘A' and ‘B'. Halide A is yellowish-white powder but halide B' is colourless oily liquid. Identify A and B and write the formulas of their hydrolysis products.
How is nitrogen prepared in the laboratory? Write the chemical equations of the reactions . involved.
Knowing the electron gain enthalpy values of O—>O– and O—>O2- as -141 and 702 kJ mol-1 respectively, how can you account for the formation of a large number of oxides having O2- species and not O–?
What are the oxidation states of phosphorus in the following: –
(i) H3PO3 (ii)PCl3
(iii) Ca3P2(iv)Na3PO4
(v) POF3
Justify the placement of O, S, Se, Te and Po in the same group'of the periodic table in terms of electronic configuration, oxidation state and hydride formation.