calcogens refers to the name of the elements present in the 16th group of the periodic table.They are''ORE FORMER'' ,theyform oreswith the other metals.
In the periodic table oxygen is found in the 16th group (colomn): the calcogens group
The oxygen family is known as chalcogens because of its Greek and Latinized Greek roots. It essentially means, "ore produced." They are most likely called that because of their occurrence in ores.
See: http://zebu.uoregon.edu/~imamura/122/images/periodic_table.gifLook at columns 14 & 15Column 14: (Group IVA)Carbon is a non-metalSilicone and Germanium are semi-metals.Tin & Lead are metals.Column 15: (Group VA)Nitrogen and Phosphorous are non-metals.Arsenic and Antimony are semi-metalsBismuth is a metal.