multivalency

9.9

The ability of an atom or ion to form more than two chemical bonds

noun
/ˌmʌltiˈveɪlənsi/

Specialized

: multivalencia

The multivalency of certain ions enables them to participate in complex chemical reactions.

Examples

Understanding multivalency is essential for predicting how certain compounds interact.
If the image tracks of Winterbottom's cinema reflect the ambiguities of globalization, we might expect to find a similar multivalency in its soundscapes.

Academic text (2009)
He partially succeeded because of the multivalency and fluidity of symbols, but insofar as he effectively retained the older representational structure in powerful tension with modern revolutionary forms, he succeeded, I think, in creating an innovative counter-revolutionary work.

Academic text (1991)
In chemistry, multivalency allows an atom to form multiple bonds with different elements.

Synonyms

multivalence

vsmultivalency

Specialized

1 9.9

The ability of an atom or ion to form more than two chemical bonds

is the same concept written with -ency ending

polyvalence

vsmultivalency

Specialized

9.9

An atom or ion that can bond with more than two other atoms

is the same concept written with -ency ending

polyvalency

vsmultivalency

Specialized

9.6

A state in which an atom can form more than two bonds

is the same concept written with -ence ending

Surface Forms

multivalency singular

multivalencies plural

Morphology

multivalency = valency (semi-transparent) = multi + valency

The prefix multi- clearly means 'many', but the chemistry-specific base valency makes the full sense only partly predictable for an average learner.

Etymology

Multivalency comes from multi- meaning 'many' and valence meaning 'strength' or the 'power to connect', a bit like the everyday word value. So multivalency means having the ability to make 'many' connections, which is why chemists use it for atoms or ions that can form more than two bonds.