Covalent
koh-VAY-luhnt
/koʊˈveɪlənt/
Relating to or denoting chemical bonds formed by the sharing of electrons between atoms.
Covalent bonds are typically strong and are characteristic of organic compounds. They contrast with ionic bonds, where electrons are transferred, creating charged ions.
The story behind the word. The term 'covalent' was introduced by American chemist Irving Langmuir in 1919. It combines the prefix 'co-' (meaning 'together' or 'jointly') with 'valent' (from 'valence,' which refers to the combining power of an element, derived from Latin 'valere' meaning 'to be strong'). Langmuir used it to describe the sharing of electron pairs between atoms, a concept that revolutionized the understanding of chemical bonding.
Word relationships
- bonded (by sharing electrons): A descriptive phrase rather than a single word synonym.
- ionic: Refers to bonds formed by the transfer of electrons, creating charged ions.
Commonly confused with
- Ionic: Covalent bonds involve sharing electrons; ionic bonds involve transferring electrons.
Word family
- covalence (noun): the state of being covalent; the number of covalent bonds an atom can form
Collocations
- covalent bond
- covalent compound
- covalent network
- polar covalent
- nonpolar covalent
Example sentences
- "The oxygen atom forms two covalent bonds with two hydrogen atoms in an H2O molecule." Water molecules are held together by strong covalent bonds.
- "The carbon atoms in a hydrocarbon chain are linked by strong covalent bonds." Organic chemistry is primarily concerned with compounds formed through covalent bonding.
- "The sharing of electrons in a covalent bond allows atoms to achieve a stable electron configuration." Understanding the nature of covalent bonds is fundamental to predicting molecular structure.
Memory hook
Think 'CO-operate' (work together) and 'CO-valent' (share electrons together). Share electrons, strong bond.
When not to use
Do not use 'covalent' to describe ionic bonds, metallic bonds, or intermolecular forces (like hydrogen bonds) which are not true chemical bonds.
Fun facts
- The concept of covalent bonding was a major step in understanding how atoms form stable molecules, moving beyond earlier theories that focused solely on electron transfer.
- The strength and directionality of covalent bonds are responsible for the rigid structures of many materials, including diamond.
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