COMBINING POWER Meaning and
Definition
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Combining power, also known as valence or valency, refers to the capacity of an atom or ion to combine or bond with other atoms or ions to form stable compounds. It measures the number of chemical bonds an atom can form.
The combining power of an atom is determined by its electronic configuration, specifically the number of valence electrons in its outermost energy level. These electrons are responsible for the atom's chemical reactivity. Atoms can gain, lose, or share electrons to achieve a stable arrangement of eight electrons in their outermost energy level, also known as the octet rule.
The combining power is usually expressed by a numerical value. For example, in the periodic table, elements in the same group usually have similar combining powers because they have the same number of valence electrons. In the case of a typical non-metal atom, its combining power is equal to the number of electrons needed to complete its octet. For example, oxygen has a combining power of two because it can accommodate two additional electrons to complete its outer energy level.
The combining power of different elements determines the type of bonds they can form. For instance, elements with high combining power tend to form ionic bonds by transfer of electrons, while elements with similar combining powers create covalent bonds by sharing electrons. These bonds enable the formation of molecules and compounds, allowing elements to attain lower energy states and increased stability.
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A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for COMBINING POWER
- xombining power
- vombining power
- fombining power
- dombining power
- cimbining power
- ckmbining power
- clmbining power
- cpmbining power
- c0mbining power
- c9mbining power
- conbining power
- cokbining power
- cojbining power
- comvining power
- comnining power
- comhining power
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- combkning power
Etymology of COMBINING POWER
The word "combining power" does not have a specific etymology of its own because it is a phrase made up of commonly used English words. However, to understand the meaning of the phrase, we can break down the etymology of its components.
1. Combining: The word "combine" originated from the Latin word "combinare" which means "to unite" or "to join together". It entered English in the mid-15th century through Old French. The root of "combinare" is "com-" meaning "together" and "binare" meaning "to join".
2. Power: The word "power" has its roots in the Latin word "potentia" which means "ability" or "capacity". It came into English from Middle English in the 13th century.
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