home
***
CD-ROM
|
disk
|
FTP
|
other
***
search
/
The Epic Interactive Encyclopedia 1997
/
The_Epic_Interactive_Encyclopedia_97.iso
/
v
/
valency
/
infotext
< prev
Wrap
Text File
|
1992-09-02
|
513b
|
13 lines
The measure of an element's ability to
combine with other elements, expressed as the
number of atoms of hydrogen (or any other
standard univalent element) capable of
uniting with (or replacing) its atoms. The
elements are described as uni-, di-, tri-,
and tetravalent when they unite with 1, 2, 3,
and 4 univalent atoms respectively. Some
elements have variable valency, for example
nitrogen and phosphorus, both 3 and 5. The
valency of oxygen is two; hence the formula
for water, H2O (hydrogen being univalent).