Chalcogencontaining

Chalcogencontaining refers to chemical species that include a chalcogen element as part of their structure. The chalcogens are the elements in group 16 of the periodic table—oxygen, sulfur, selenium, tellurium, and polonium. The term is used broadly to describe inorganic compounds that contain chalcogens (such as oxides, sulfides, selenides, and tellurides), as well as organic or organoelement compounds in which a chalcogen atom is bonded to carbon or other elements. It also applies to materials and polymers containing chalcogen atoms.

Inorganic examples include common oxides like silicon dioxide, sulfides such as iron sulfide, selenides like cadmium selenide, and tellurides such as zinc telluride. Organic chalcogen-containing compounds include thioethers, sulfoxides, sulfones, and their selenium- and tellurium- analogs, as well as heterocycles that incorporate sulfur, selenium, or tellurium. Chalcogen-containing materials, notably chalcogenide glasses and chemically or photoactive semiconductors, have important roles in optics and electronics.

Properties of chalcogen-containing species vary with the oxidation state and bonding of the chalcogen. They may engage in redox chemistry, form chalcogen-chalcogen interactions, and exhibit diverse electronic structures, which underpins many applications.

Applications span electronics, photovoltaics, catalysis, energy storage, and biomedical research. Safety and environmental concerns are species-dependent; some chalcogen compounds are toxic or hazardous and require appropriate handling and disposal.