Meaning & use
chalcogen
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any of the chemical elements in group 16 of the periodic table, including oxygen, sulfur, selenium, tellurium, and polonium.
See it in a sentence
Oxygen and sulfur are the two most familiar chalcogens.
Chalcogens tend to form compounds called chalcogenides with metals.
A note on using this word
The name comes from Greek roots meaning 'ore former,' since many of these elements are found in common mineral ores.
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