noun
- Plural of covalency; the number of covalent bonds an atom can form, or the state of being covalently bonded.
Usage: chemistry; technical
Examples
- The covalencies of carbon atoms allow them to form four bonds with other elements.
- Different elements exhibit varying covalencies depending on their electron configurations.
- In organic chemistry, understanding covalencies is essential for predicting molecular structure.
- The covalencies of nitrogen and oxygen determine how they bond in compounds like nitrates.
- Chemists study covalencies to explain the stability and reactivity of molecules.