HYPERVALENT Meaning and
Definition
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Hypervalent is an adjective used to describe a chemical element or compound that possesses more electrons in its outermost shell or valence shell than the general rule allows, based on the octet rule. The octet rule states that atoms tend to gain, lose, or share electrons in order to achieve a stable configuration with eight electrons in their outermost shell.
In hypervalent compounds, such as certain compounds of phosphorus, sulfur, or chlorine, the central atom or element exceeds the octet rule by accommodating more than eight electrons in its valence shell. This is possible because these elements have empty d-orbitals in the valence shell that can accept and accommodate additional electrons. The hypervalent state arises due to the presence of these empty orbitals, allowing for the formation of additional bonds.
Hypervalency enables the central atom or element to form more bonds and interact with a greater number of ligands or other atoms than would be anticipated based on its regular valence. This property is particularly observed in certain compounds involving highly electronegative atoms like oxygen or fluorine. The hypervalent state allows these elements to participate in chemical reactions and form stable compounds even when they exceed the typical number of valence electrons.
Hypervalency has applications in various fields of chemistry, including coordination chemistry, organometallic chemistry, and chemical bonding studies. Understanding the nature and behavior of hypervalent compounds is crucial to comprehending the intricacies of molecular structures and reactions involving elements that defy the traditional octet rule.
Common Misspellings for HYPERVALENT
- gypervalent
- bypervalent
- nypervalent
- jypervalent
- uypervalent
- yypervalent
- htpervalent
- hgpervalent
- hhpervalent
- hupervalent
- h7pervalent
- h6pervalent
- hyoervalent
- hylervalent
- hy-ervalent
- hy0ervalent
- hypwrvalent
- hypsrvalent
- hypdrvalent
- hyprrvalent
Etymology of HYPERVALENT
The word "hypervalent" is derived from the combination of two parts: "hyper-" and "valent".
- "Hyper-" is a prefix used in English, derived from the Greek word "hýper", meaning "over" or "above". It is often added to words as a way to describe something as being excessive, exaggerated, or beyond the norm.
- "Valent" is a term used in chemistry to describe the combining capacity or the number of bonds an atom can form, also known as its "valence". It is derived from the Latin word "valentia", meaning "power" or "capacity".
When these two parts are combined, "hypervalent" is formed, suggesting that something is exceeding or going beyond the typical or expected valence or bonding capacity of an atom in chemistry.
