valence
2 synonyms for valence, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — In chemistry, the combining power of an atom, measured by the number of chemical bonds it can form or the number of electrons it gains, loses or shares.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
valency
combining power
How to use valence
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
valence electrons
valence shell
emotional valence
positive valence
Technical in every sense; the term rarely appears outside chemistry, psychology and linguistics.
Etymology
From Latin valentia 'strength, capacity', from valere 'to be strong'.
Full origin of valence →Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between valence and valency?
They are the same term in different spellings. 'Valence' is standard American usage and is now common everywhere in chemistry, while 'valency' remains usual in British scientific writing. Neither is wrong.
What are valence electrons?
They are the electrons in an atom's outermost shell. Because they are the ones available for bonding, they determine almost all of an element's chemical behaviour and its position in the periodic table.
What does valence mean in psychology?
It means how positive or negative an emotional experience or stimulus feels. A photograph of a puppy has positive valence and a photograph of an injury has negative valence, independent of how intense, or arousing, the reaction is.
