(1) Atomic and ionic radii :

1. As compared to group 15 elements, the atomic and ionic radii of group 16 elements are smaller due to higher nuclear charge.

2. The atomic and ionic radii increase down the group from oxygen to polonium. This is due to the addition of a new shell at each successive elements on moving down the group. The atomic radii increases in the order O < S < Se < Te < Po

(2) Ionisation enthalpy :

• The ionisation enthalpy of group 16 elements has quite high values.
• Ionisation enthalpy decreases down the group from oxygen to polonium. This is due to the increase in atomic volume down the group.
• The first ionisation enthalpy of the lighter elements of group 16 (O, S, Se) have lower values than those of group 15 elements in the corresponding periods. This is due to difference in their electronic configurations.

Group 15 : (valence shell) ns² npx ¹ npy ¹ npz ¹

Group 16 : (valence shell) ns² npx ² npy ¹ npz ¹

Group 15 elements have extra stability of halffilled and more symmetrical orbitals, while group 16 elements acquire extra stability by losing one of paired electrons from npx-orbital forming half-filled p-orbitals.

Hence group 16 elements have lower first ionisation enthalpy than group 15 elements.

(3) Electronegativity :

• The electronegativity values of group 16 elements have higher values than corresponding group 15 elements in the same periods.
• Oxygen is the second most electronegative elements after fluorine. (O = 3.5, F = 4)
• On moving down the group electronegativity decreases from oxygen to polonium.
• On moving down the group atomic size increases, hence nuclear attraction decreases, therefore electro-negativity decreases.