covalence

[ koh-vey-luh ns ]
/ koʊˈveɪ ləns /

noun Chemistry.

the number of electron pairs that an atom can share with other atoms.

Origin of covalence

First recorded in 1915–20; co- + valence

OTHER WORDS FROM covalence

co·va·lent, adjective co·va·lent·ly, adverb

Words nearby covalence