ELECTROVALENCY Meaning and
Definition
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Electrovalency refers to the quantitative measure of the ability of an atom to attract or donate electrons in a chemical bond with another atom. It describes the degree of electrical charge carried by an atom during a chemical reaction.
Electrovalency is a characteristic property of elements (atoms) that participate in ionic or electrovalent bonding. In an electrovalent bond, one atom tends to lose electrons, which become negatively charged ions, while another atom tends to gain these electrons, becoming positively charged ions. This transfer of electrons between atoms is what creates the electrovalent bond.
The electrovalency of an atom is determined by its position in the periodic table, specifically its number of valence electrons, which are the electrons in the outermost energy level. Elements on the left side of the periodic table tend to have fewer valence electrons and thus a higher electrovalency, making them more likely to lose electrons and become cations. On the other hand, elements on the right side of the periodic table have more valence electrons and a lower electrovalency, making them more likely to gain electrons and become anions.
The concept of electrovalency helps explain the formation and stability of ionic compounds, as well as the strength of their bonds. It is a fundamental concept in chemistry that aids in predicting the behavior of elements and compounds in various chemical reactions.
Common Misspellings for ELECTROVALENCY
- wlectrovalency
- slectrovalency
- dlectrovalency
- rlectrovalency
- 4lectrovalency
- 3lectrovalency
- ekectrovalency
- epectrovalency
- eoectrovalency
- elwctrovalency
- elsctrovalency
- eldctrovalency
- elrctrovalency
- el4ctrovalency
- el3ctrovalency
- elextrovalency
- elevtrovalency
- eleftrovalency
- eledtrovalency
- elecrrovalency
Etymology of ELECTROVALENCY
The word "electrovalency" is derived from two components: "electro" and "valency".
1. "Electro" comes from the Greek word "ēlektron", which means "amber". The word was initially used to describe a kind of fossilized resin that has the capability to generate an electric charge when rubbed. Over time, "electro" has become a prefix used to denote concepts related to electricity.
2. "Valency" is a term borrowed from chemistry, specifically from the concept of valence electrons. Valency refers to the bonding capacity of an atom, i.e., the number of electrons it can share or transfer to form chemical bonds with other atoms.
Combining these two terms, "electrovalency" refers to the electrochemical bonding capacity or valence of an atom or molecule in terms of its ability to gain or lose electrons during a chemical reaction.
