What defines oxygen and its kin?

The oxygen group is the 6th column in the periodic table, which means these elements need two electrons more for their valence shell. This means that they are quite reactive, like the elements of Group II: Alkaline earth metals​​.

• nonmetals
• reactive
  • form ions of charge 2−
• form toxic compounds with H, hydrogen (vety)​
  • except for H2O, water​