Covalence (Noun)
Meaning
Valence characterized by the sharing of electrons in a chemical compound; the number of pairs of electrons an atom can share.
Classification
Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects.
Examples
- The covalence of the oxygen atom in water is two, as it shares two pairs of electrons with the hydrogen atoms.
- The covalence of carbon in methane is four, allowing it to form stable bonds with four hydrogen atoms.
- In covalent compounds, the covalence of each atom determines the molecular structure and bonding patterns.
- The covalence of the phosphorus atom in phosphine is three, with three pairs of electrons shared in covalent bonds to form the molecule.
- Determining the covalence of an atom is crucial in predicting its chemical reactivity and potential bonding patterns.