monovalent

Meanings

1. 1adjectivenot comparablechemistry

   Describing an atom, ion, or group that has a valence of one, so it can bond with just one hydrogen atom.

   Grammar: Used before a noun or after be: a monovalent ion.

   Patterns

   • a monovalent ion

   Sodium forms a monovalent cation with a charge of plus one.

   Chlorine is monovalent in a compound such as sodium chloride.

   The textbook lists monovalent elements in the first column.

2. 2adjectivenot comparablemedical

   Describing a vaccine or antibody that works against one single strain or antigen.

   Grammar: Used before a noun: a monovalent vaccine.

   Patterns

   • a monovalent vaccine

   The clinic used a monovalent vaccine aimed at one virus strain.

   Researchers compared a monovalent antibody with a multivalent one.

   A monovalent shot protects against only a single type.

Common combinations

monovalent ion

A potassium ion is a monovalent ion.

monovalent vaccine

The monovalent vaccine targets one strain.

monovalent cation

Sodium is a monovalent cation in solution.

monovalent antibody

A monovalent antibody binds a single site.

Synonyms and how they differ

univalent

Univalent means the same as monovalent in chemistry but is the older, less used term.

single-strain

Single-strain is a plain phrase in vaccines, while monovalent is the formal technical word.

monofunctional

Monofunctional describes a molecule with one reactive site, which is related but not limited to valence.

Opposites

Word family

valence noun

the combining power of an atom

divalent adjective

having a valence of two

polyvalent adjective

having several valences or targeting several strains

monovalence noun

the state of being monovalent

Commonly confused: monovalent or monolithic? monovalent or bivalent?

Practice

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