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Valence: meaning, definitions and examples

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valence

 

[ ˈveɪ.ləns ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

emotional state

Valence refers to the intrinsic attractiveness or averseness of an event, object, or situation. In psychology, it often describes the emotional value associated with a stimulus, where positive valence indicates pleasure and negative valence indicates displeasure.

Synonyms

attractiveness, emotional charge, value

Examples of usage

  • The valence of the memories he recalled was overwhelmingly positive.
  • In her research, she analyzed the valence of different emotional responses.
  • The valence of this experience significantly impacted his mood.
Context #2 | Noun

chemistry

In chemistry, valence refers to the combining capacity of an atom or a radical. It defines the number of bonds that an atom can form with other atoms to create compounds.

Synonyms

bonding capacity, valency

Examples of usage

  • The valence of carbon allows it to form four covalent bonds.
  • Understanding the valence of elements is crucial in molecular chemistry.
  • Oxygen has a valence of two, making it essential for water formation.

Translations

Translations of the word "valence" in other languages:

🇵🇹 valência

🇮🇳 वलेंस

🇩🇪 Valenz

🇮🇩 valensi

🇺🇦 валентність

🇵🇱 walencja

🇯🇵 価数

🇫🇷 valence

🇪🇸 valencia

🇹🇷 valans

🇰🇷 가치

🇸🇦 قيمة

🇨🇿 valence

🇸🇰 valencia

🇨🇳 价态

🇸🇮 valenca

🇮🇸 gild

🇰🇿 валенттік

🇬🇪 ვალენცია

🇦🇿 valens

🇲🇽 valencia

Etymology

The term 'valence' is derived from the Latin word 'valentia,' which means 'strength' or 'capacity.' In its early usage, it was used to describe the ability of something to have value, strength, or effectiveness. The application of 'valence' in psychology began gaining traction in the early 20th century, particularly in the analysis of emotions and their effects on behavior. Meanwhile, in chemistry, the concept has been essential since the late 19th century as scientists started to understand the properties of chemical bonds and the interactions between atoms more profoundly. As such, 'valence' has evolved to encompass various fields, indicating its versatility and importance in understanding the intrinsic qualities of different subjects.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranked #11,937, this word falls into high-advanced vocabulary. It appears less frequently but is valuable for expressing precise meanings in specific contexts.