Meaning & use
valence
The combining power of an atom, determined by the number of electrons it can gain, lose, or share.
See it in a sentence
Carbon has a valence of four, which lets it form stable bonds with many other atoms.
Understanding an element's valence helps predict what compounds it can form.
A note on using this word
In psychology, valence instead describes whether an emotion feels positive or negative, not its intensity.
Words with a similar meaning
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Another way to use it
2. noun
The positive or negative quality of an emotion or experience.
Fear and joy differ in valence even when both raise the heart rate.
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