How Do You Spell SEXAVALENT?

Pronunciation: [sˈɛksɐvˌe͡ɪlənt] (IPA)

Sexavalent is a term used in chemistry to describe an element's ability to form six chemical bonds with other elements. The word is spelled sɛksəveɪlənt, with the stress on the second syllable. The initial "s" is pronounced as "s," the "e" sound is a short "e," the "k" sound is aspirated, and the final "t" is pronounced. The middle syllable contains a diphthong, with the stress on the second vowel. The final syllable is pronounced with a short "u" sound followed by a schwa. The spelling of sexavalent reflects the word's Greek roots, with "hexa" meaning six and "valent" meaning having a particular number of bonds.

SEXAVALENT Meaning and Definition

1. Sexavalent is an adjective used to describe a chemical compound or element that has a valency of six or the ability to combine with six other atoms or ions in a chemical reaction. Valency refers to the number of electrons that an atom can gain, lose, or share when forming chemical bonds with other atoms. In the case of sexavalent compounds, the central atom or element is capable of forming six such bonds.

   This term is commonly used in the field of chemistry to characterize certain elements or molecules that exhibit this specific valence state. For instance, chromium (Cr) in its hexavalent state is considered sexavalent, as it has six valence electrons and can bond with six other atoms or ions. This attribute has significant implications for various chemical reactions and compound formations.

   Sexavalent compounds often play a crucial role in coordination chemistry, where they act as central atoms or ions in complex molecules. The ability to form six bonds allows these compounds to create highly intricate structures, making them important in various fields, including catalysis, material science, and biochemistry.

   It is worth noting that sexavalent is derived from the Latin word “sex,” which means six. Therefore, when encountering this term, one can deduce its meaning based on the prefix "sex-" and its relation to the concept of valency in chemistry.

Common Misspellings for SEXAVALENT

• aexavalent
• zexavalent
• dexavalent
• eexavalent
• wexavalent
• swxavalent
• ssxavalent
• sdxavalent
• srxavalent
• s4xavalent
• s3xavalent
• sezavalent
• secavalent
• sedavalent
• sesavalent
• sexzvalent
• sexsvalent
• sexwvalent
• sexqvalent
• sexacalent

Etymology of SEXAVALENT

The etymology of the word "sexavalent" can be broken down as follows:

1. "Sexa" is derived from the Latin word "sex", meaning "six".

2. "Valent" comes from the Latin word "valens", which means "having worth" or "being strong".

When these two parts are combined, "sexa-" referring to six and "-valent" suggesting strength, the term "sexavalent" is created. It specifically denotes something having six valences or being capable of forming six chemical bonds.