Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition


Valence

Va′lence

,
Noun.
[From L.
valens
,
-entis
, p. pr. of
valere
to have power, to be strong. See
Valiant
.]
(Chem.)
The degree of combining power of an atom (or radical) as shown by the number of atoms of hydrogen (or of other monads, as chlorine, sodium, etc.) with which it will combine, or for which it can be substituted, or with which it can be compared; thus, an atom of hydrogen is a monad, and has a valence of one; the atoms of oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon are respectively dyads, triads, and tetrads, and have a valence respectively of two, three, and four.
☞ The valence of certain elements varies in different compounds. Valence in degree may extend as high as seven or eight, as in the cases of iodine and osmium respectively. The doctrine of valence has been of fundamental importance in distinguishing the equivalence from the atomic weight, and is an essential factor in explaining the chemical structures of compounds.

Definition 2024


Valence

Valence

See also: valence

French

Proper noun

Valence f

  1. a commune in south-eastern France
  2. Valencia, Spain

Related terms

  • valencien

Anagrams

valence

valence

See also: Valence

English

Alternative forms

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈveɪləns/

Noun

valence (plural valences)

  1. (chemistry, medicine, obsolete outside compounds) An extract; a preparation, now especially one effective against a certain number of strains of a pathogen.
    trivalent vaccine (one meant to be effective against three strains)
  2. (chemistry) The combining capacity of an atom, radical or functional group determined by the number of electrons that it will lose, gain, or share when it combines with other atoms etc
  3. (chemistry) The number of binding sites of a molecule, such as an antibody or antigen
  4. (linguistics) The number of arguments that a verb can have, including its subject, ranging from zero (for the likes of "It rains") to three (for the likes of "He gives her a flower").
  5. (psychology) A one-dimensional value assigned to an object, situation, or state, that can usually be positive or negative
  6. (sociology) value
Synonyms
Derived terms
Related terms
Translations

Etymology 2

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈvæləns/

Noun

valence (plural valences)

  1. Alternative spelling of valance

See also

References

Anagrams


Czech

Noun

valence f

  1. valence, valency (chemistry)
  2. valence, valency (linguistics)

Derived terms

  • valenční

French

Etymology

From Latin valentia, German -valenz.

Noun

valence f (plural valences)

  1. valence

Anagrams