Valency: meaning, definitions and examples
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valency
[ ˈveɪlənsi ]
chemistry
Valency is a concept in chemistry that refers to the ability of an atom to bond with other atoms. This is determined by the number of electrons in the outer shell of an atom and how many of these electrons can be shared, lost, or gained when forming a compound. Valency is essential for understanding chemical reactions and molecular structures, as it dictates how different elements can interact with one another. Elements can have multiple valencies depending on the context of the chemical reaction.
Synonyms
bonding capacity, combining power, valence.
Examples of usage
- The valency of hydrogen is one, allowing it to form bonds with various elements.
- Oxygen typically has a valency of two, which means it can form two covalent bonds.
- Valency helps predict the formulas of compounds, like H2O for water.
- Understanding valency is crucial for balancing chemical equations.
linguistics
In linguistics, valency refers to the capacity of a verb to govern a specific number of arguments. It defines how many participants a verb can take in a sentence, influencing sentence structure and meaning. For example, an intransitive verb has a valency of one (requiring a subject), while a transitive verb has a valency of two (requiring a subject and an object). Mastery of valency is crucial for constructing grammatically correct and meaningful sentences.
Synonyms
argument structure, lexical requirement.
Examples of usage
- The verb 'give' has a valency of three, involving a giver, a recipient, and an item.
- Intransitive verbs typically have a lower valency than transitive verbs.
- Understanding valency aids in language learning and sentence construction.
- Valency can vary significantly among different languages.
Translations
Translations of the word "valency" in other languages:
🇵🇹 valência
🇮🇳 वैलेंसी
🇩🇪 Valenz
🇮🇩 valensi
🇺🇦 валентність
🇵🇱 walencja
🇯🇵 価数
🇫🇷 valence
🇪🇸 valencia
🇹🇷 valans
🇰🇷 원자량
🇸🇦 العدد الذري
🇨🇿 valence
🇸🇰 valencia
🇨🇳 价态
🇸🇮 valenca
🇮🇸 valens
🇰🇿 валенттілік
🇬🇪 ვალენტურობა
🇦🇿 valens
🇲🇽 valencia
Etymology
The word 'valency' originates from the Latin word 'valentia', which means strength or worth. It was adopted into English in the mid-19th century, primarily within the domains of chemistry and grammar. In chemistry, it was first used to describe the capacity of atoms to form chemical bonds, linking it to the concepts of valence electrons and oxidation states. The linguistic application of 'valency' emerged in the early 20th century, focusing on the relationships between verbs and their arguments. The dual usage of 'valency' in both science and linguistics showcases its versatility and importance in understanding interactions, whether in molecular structures or sentence constructions.