Q.83 Chemistry · Section A ⭐ 360° Option Elimination Active

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NEET 2024 Chemistry Question 83 Solution

Topic: The p-Block Elements · Official NTA Booklet Code T1

Question

Among Group 16 elements, which one does NOT show −2 oxidation state?

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Verified Against NTA Final Answer Key

Option (2) : Po (Polonium)

📚 The p-Block Elements Easy

📋 Given Parameters & Problem Setup

Elements of Group 16 Oxygen (O), Sulfur (S), Selenium (Se), Tellurium (Te), Polonium (Po)

Condition to evaluate Element that does NOT show -2 oxidation state

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The 30-Second Exam Hall Shortcut: ⚡ Metallic Polonium Non-Negative State Hack

⏱️ Save ~25 seconds

Polonium (Po) is a radioactive post-transition metal with low electronegativity. It shows metallic character (+2, +4), and does NOT form a stable -2 oxidation state!

1 Group 16 non-metals and metalloids (O, S, Se, Te) readily form -2 oxidation state (oxides, sulphides, selenides, tellurides).

2 Down the group, electronegativity and non-metallic character decrease while metallic character increases.

3 Polonium is the heaviest member of Group 16 and is a true metal.

4 Due to its metallic character and low electronegativity, Polonium does NOT show the -2 oxidation state.

5 Option (2) in 3 seconds!

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Why You Can 100% Trust This Shortcut: NCERT Chemistry · The p-Block Elements (Trends in oxidation states of Group 16 elements: metallic character increases down the group and Po does not show -2 oxidation state).

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Step-by-Step Rigorous Workflow & Mathematical Proof

Step 1

Periodic Trends in Oxidation States of Group 16

Group 16 elements have the valence shell electronic configuration ns² np⁴. They can achieve a noble gas octet by gaining two electrons to form the -2 oxidation state. However, the stability of the -2 oxidation state decreases sharply down the group as electronegativity drops and metallic character rises:

\text{Stability of } -2 \text{ state: } \text{O} > \text{S} > \text{Se} > \text{Te} \gg \text{Po}

Step 2

Specific Behavior of Polonium

Polonium (Po, Z = 84) is a radioactive, distinctly metallic element. As stated verbatim in NCERT, because of its pronounced metallic character and electropositive nature, polonium hardly shows the -2 oxidation state; its predominant and stable oxidation states are +2 and +4:

\text{Po shows } +2 \text{ and } +4 \text{ oxidation states, NOT } -2

Step 3

Verification of Te, O, and Se

Oxygen is predominantly -2 (in H2O, metal oxides). Sulfur forms sulphides (S²⁻, -2). Selenium forms selenides (Se²⁻, -2). Tellurium forms tellurides (Te²⁻, -2, e.g. H2Te, Na2Te). All of O, S, Se, and Te exhibit -2, whereas Polonium does not.

\text{Te}^{2-}, \; \text{O}^{2-}, \; \text{Se}^{2-} \;\text{exist}; \quad \text{Po}^{2-} \;\text{does not exist}

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360° Option Elimination Engine Key Feature

Diagnose every choice: Know exactly why the right option works and why distractors fail.

4-Option Deep Scan

1 (1)

✗ Incorrect

Verdict & Scientific Reason:

Tellurium forms tellurides containing Te²⁻ (e.g. H2Te, ZnTe).

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Student Fallacy (Why candidates pick this trap): Assuming tellurium is too heavy to show -2.

2 (2)

✓ 100% Correct

Verdict & Scientific Reason:

Polonium is a metal and does not form the -2 oxidation state.

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Why this is airtight: None.

3 (3)

✗ Incorrect

Verdict & Scientific Reason:

Oxygen predominantly exhibits -2 in virtually all oxides.

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Student Fallacy (Why candidates pick this trap): Thinking oxygen cannot show -2.

4 (4)

✗ Incorrect

Verdict & Scientific Reason:

Selenium readily shows -2 in selenides (e.g. H2Se, Na2Se).

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Student Fallacy (Why candidates pick this trap): Assuming selenium only shows positive states.

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NTA Trap Alert: Assuming Tellurium is the Limit for -2

Students often guess Tellurium because it is heavy, but NCERT explicitly lists -2 for Te (in H2Te). Polonium is the only one that lacks -2.

🛡️ How to avoid the -1 mark: Remember: Polonium is a metal; metals do not form negative oxidation states.

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Core NEET Syllabus Standard

Chemistry Core Inorganic Chemistry · The p-Block Elements Standard Benchmark

Core Scientific Principle Tested:

"The stability of the -2 oxidation state decreases down Group 16; polonium, being distinctly metallic, does not show the -2 oxidation state."

Syllabus Focus: Group 16 Elements: Oxidation States and Chemical Reactivity

✓ Core NEET UG Syllabus Anchor Syllabus & Academic Standards ↗

Polonium is a metal through and through: it won’t take electrons to become minus two!

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NEET 2024 Chemistry Question 83 Solution

Question

The 30-Second Exam Hall Shortcut: ⚡ Metallic Polonium Non-Negative State Hack

Step-by-Step Rigorous Workflow & Mathematical Proof

Periodic Trends in Oxidation States of Group 16

Specific Behavior of Polonium

Verification of Te, O, and Se

360° Option Elimination Engine Key Feature

NTA Trap Alert: Assuming Tellurium is the Limit for -2

Core NEET Syllabus Standard

Ready to attempt under real exam pressure?

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