Answer to Question #53491 in Inorganic Chemistry for manisha

Question

In group 16 since, the electronegativity decreases so tendency to exhibit -2 oxidation state decreases as we go down the group. why this is so .?
how electronegativity and oxidation state link with each other.

Answer 1

Electronegativity is an ability of element bound with another one to shift pairs of bonding electrons closer to itself. Since, -2 oxidation state means that an element attracts electrons stronger than other one, the stability of this state decreases in order of decreasing of ability to shift electrons.
An oxidation state shows the number of electron pairs shifted to or drawn from atom, and its sign of charge is linked with electronegativity, namely, an atom with negative oxidation state has higher electronegativity than that with positive one.