happiryhmään

Happiryhmän is a Finnish term that translates to "oxygen group" or "oxygen family" in English. It refers to the elements in Group 16 of the periodic table. These elements share common characteristics due to having six valence electrons, meaning they are one or two electrons short of achieving a stable electron configuration.

The elements belonging to the oxygen group are oxygen (O), sulfur (S), selenium (Se), tellurium (Te), and polonium (Po). Oganesson (Og), a synthetic element, is also placed in this group, though its chemical properties are not fully characterized. Oxygen is a nonmetal and is essential for respiration in most living organisms. Sulfur is also a nonmetal, known for its distinctive smell and its importance in biological molecules like amino acids. Selenium and tellurium are metalloids, exhibiting properties intermediate between metals and nonmetals. Polonium is a radioactive metalloid.

Members of the oxygen group tend to form compounds with other elements. Oxygen, for instance, readily forms oxides with many metals and nonmetals. They often exhibit oxidation states of -2, but can also display positive oxidation states when bonded to more electronegative elements like fluorine. The reactivity of these elements generally decreases as you move down the group.