covalence

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noun

A form of valence in which electrons are shared between participating atoms

Similar
covalency
OriginEnglish valence ← Latin co- ← Proto-Italic *kom- →
Scrabble 16
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Meanings

nouncovalence (plural covalences)

plural covalences · alternative covalency

  1. chemistryA form of valence in which electrons are shared between participating atoms
  2. chemistryThe number of electrons that a particular atom can share (and therefore the number of covalent bonds it can form)

Synonyms & antonyms

nounvalence characterized by the sharing of electrons in a chemical compound; the number of pairs of electrons an atom can share

Similar
covalency
Broader
valencevalency

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*ḱe?
  2. Proto-Indo-European*ḱóm
  3. Proto-Italic*kom
  4. Proto-Italic*kom-
  5. Latincon-
  6. Latinco-
  7. Englishco-
  8. Englishvalence
  9. Englishcovalence

From co- + valence.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Catalan covalència
  • covalènciaTranslations
French covalence
  • covalenceTranslations
Greek ομοιοπολικότητα
  • ομοιοπολικότητα (omoiopolikótita)Translations
Latin covalēntia, convalēntia
  • covalēntiaTranslations
  • convalēntiaTranslations
Polish współwartościowość
  • współwartościowośćTranslations
Cite this entry
APA

covalence. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/covalence

MLA

“covalence.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/covalence. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “covalence,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/covalence.

Source: covalence on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.