covalent

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covalent

Two hydrogen atoms share electrons in a covalent bond.

Definition
  1. Adjective:
    • Relating to or characterized by covalent bonds: Describes a type of strong chemical bond where two atoms share one or more pairs of electrons.
    • Pertaining to covalence: Relating to the number of electron pairs an atom can share with other atoms.
Usage
  • The term "covalent" is primarily used in chemistry to describe the nature of a bond between atoms or the structure of a molecule.
  • It is most commonly used attributively before a noun (e.g., covalent bond, covalent compound).
  • It describes a fundamental type of chemical interaction distinct from ionic or metallic bonding.
Examples
  • Adjective:
    • Water is a covalent molecule. (The atoms in a water molecule are held together by shared electrons.)
    • A covalent bond is typically formed between two non-metal atoms. (This bond involves the sharing of electron pairs.)
    • The compound has a simple covalent structure. (The substance is made of molecules where atoms share electrons.)
Advanced Usage
  • "Covalent character": Refers to the degree or extent to which a bond exhibits properties of electron sharing, even in bonds that are primarily ionic.
    • The bond has significant covalent character due to the similar electronegativity of the atoms.
  • "Covalent network solid": Describes a solid material where atoms are bonded in a continuous network by covalent bonds (e.g., diamond, quartz).
    • Diamond is an extremely hard covalent network solid.
Variants and Related Words
  • Covalently (adverb): In a manner involving a covalent bond.
    • The atoms are covalently bonded.
  • Covalency / Covalence (noun): The number of electron pairs an atom can share; the state of being linked by covalent bonds.
    • Carbon has a covalency of four.
  • Covalent bond (noun phrase): The specific bond formed by the sharing of electron pairs between atoms.
Synonyms
  • Electron-sharing: (Descriptive phrase) Involving the sharing of electrons between atoms.
  • Nonpolar covalent: (Specific type) A covalent bond where electrons are shared equally.
  • Polar covalent: (Specific type) A covalent bond where electrons are shared unequally.
Antonyms
  • Ionic: Relating to a bond formed by the complete transfer of electrons from one atom to another.
  • Metallic: Relating to a bond characteristic of metals, involving a "sea" of delocalized electrons.
Related Phrases and Concepts
  • Coordinate covalent bond / Dative bond: A type of covalent bond where both shared electrons come from the same atom.
    • In an ammonium ion, one bond is a coordinate covalent bond.
  • Covalent radius: Half the distance between the nuclei of two identical atoms joined by a covalent bond.
    • The covalent radius of chlorine is used to predict bond lengths.
covalent

Two hydrogen atoms share electrons in a covalent bond.

Adjective
  1. of or relating to or characterized by covalence
    • covalent bond