valence — the combining power of an element, especially as measured by the number of hydrogen atoms it can displace or combine with
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: the combining power of an element, especially as measured by the number of hydrogen atoms it can displace or combine with
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈveɪləns/
Example Sentences
- The chemistry teacher explained that carbon has a valence of four, making it the social butterfly of the periodic table.
- Psychologists study the valence of memories to understand how emotions affect recall.
- The word 'tax' has such negative valence that politicians prefer calling it 'contribution'.
valence
NOUN[/ˈveɪləns/]
the combining power of an element, especially as measured by the number of hydrogen atoms it can displace or combine with
Elements showing their bonding power
In perfect silence, valence finds its balance
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
Valence derives from Latin valentia, meaning 'strength' or 'power'. The term was adopted in chemistry during the 18th-19th centuries to describe the combining capacity of elements, and later extended to psychology to express the intensity or affective quality of emotions.
Breakdown
val- (strength, power, from Latin valere 'to be strong') + -ence (noun suffix indicating quality or state). The morpheme valent- carries the sense of 'having power to combine or affect'.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“The chemistry teacher explained that carbon has a valence of four, making it the social butterfly of the periodic table.”
“Psychologists study the valence of memories to understand how emotions affect recall.”
“The word 'tax' has such negative valence that politicians prefer calling it 'contribution'.”
“Understanding valence electrons is crucial for predicting chemical reactions.”
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