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covalente

covalent

adjective koh-bah-LEN-teh Rare

Origin: From Latin co- (together) + valentia (strength, valence).

Usage Note

Covalente describes a chemical bond in which two atoms share electrons rather than transfer them — contrasted with iónico (ionic). The noun is enlace covalente or unión covalente. Like most adjectives ending in -nte, it has the same form for masculine and feminine: un enlace covalente / una unión covalente.

Examples

"El agua tiene enlaces covalentes entre sus átomos."

Natural Translation

Water has covalent bonds between its atoms.

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