Group 6 element

A Group 6 element is one in the series of elements in group 6 (IUPAC style) in the periodic table, which consists of the transition metals chromium (Cr), molybdenum (Mo), tungsten (W), and seaborgium (Sg).

Additional recommended knowledge

Daily Visual Balance Check

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Essential Laboratory Skills Guide

"Group 6" is the new IUPAC name for this group; the old style name was "group VIA" in the old European system or "group VIB" in the old US system. Group 6 must not be confused with the group with the old-style group names of either VIB (European system) or VIA (US system); that group is now called group 16.

Biological occurrences

Group 6 is notable in that it contains some of the only elements in periods 5 and 6 with a known role in the biological chemistry of living organisms: molybdenum is common in enzymes of many organisms, and tungsten has been identified in an analogous role in enzymes from some archaea, such as Pyrococcus furiosus. In contrast, and unusually for a first-row d-block transition metal, chromium appears to have few biological roles, although it is thought to form part of the glucose metabolism enzyme in some mammals.