COVALENCE Meaning and
Definition
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Covalence refers to the shared bonding or connection between two or more atoms through the sharing of electrons in a chemical compound or molecule. It is a fundamental concept in chemistry that describes the strength and stability of chemical bonds formed when two atoms come together.
In a covalent bond, atoms share one or more pairs of electrons to achieve a more stable state and form a molecule. This type of bonding typically occurs between nonmetals or nonmetallic elements, as they have a higher tendency to gain, lose, or share electrons in order to achieve a full outer electron shell.
The term "covalence" is often used to describe the degree or extent of sharing between atoms in a bond. It can be influenced by factors such as electronegativity, which measures an atom's ability to attract electrons towards itself. When atoms have similar electronegativities, they are more likely to have equal sharing of electrons, resulting in a nonpolar covalent bond. Conversely, if there is a significant difference in electronegativity, one atom will attract the shared electrons more strongly, leading to a polar covalent bond.
Covalence plays a crucial role in determining the physical and chemical properties of compounds. It affects their melting and boiling points, solubility, and reactivity. Understanding covalence is vital for predicting and explaining chemical reactions, molecular structures, and the behavior of various substances in different environments.
Common Misspellings for COVALENCE
- xovalence
- vovalence
- fovalence
- dovalence
- civalence
- ckvalence
- clvalence
- cpvalence
- c0valence
- c9valence
- cocalence
- cobalence
- cogalence
- cofalence
- covzlence
- covslence
- covwlence
- covqlence
- covakence
Etymology of COVALENCE
The word "covalence" is derived from the term "covalent", which comes from the Latin "co" meaning "together" and "valentia" meaning "strength" or "power". "Covalent" was originally used in chemistry to describe the mutual sharing of electron pairs between two atoms, forming a strong bond. The term "covalence" is then formed by adding the English suffix "-ence", which is used to indicate a state or quality. Thus, "covalence" refers to the state or quality of being covalent, indicating the strength or power of the sharing of electrons between atoms.
Similar spelling words for COVALENCE
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