Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
combining weight

combining weight

8.8
Amount of an element that combines with eight parts by weight of oxygen
  • noun
  • Archaic
translation icon : peso equivalente
  • Scientists calculated the combining weight of sulfur based on its reaction with oxygen.

Examples

  • The combining weight of hydrogen is much lower than that of oxygen.

  • The combining weight of hydrogen is 1.

  • Early chemists used the combining weight to compare the reactivity of different elements.

  • Oxygen has a combining weight of 8.

  • The combining weight of hydrogen is approximately 1, which means it can combine with oxygen in various compounds.

  • Chemists often refer to the combining weight of an element when discussing reactions involving oxygen.

  • To understand the chemical reactions, it's essential to know the combining weight of each element involved.

Synonyms

equivalent
vscombining weight
  • Specialized
9 8.1

An amount of a substance that reacts with a set amount of another

is the atomic weight defined by the same oxygen standard rather than a general amount
eq
vscombining weight
  • Specialized
1 9.9

A chemical amount that reacts with one mole of hydrogen ions or electrons

is the atomic amount defined by oxygen set to eight not the ion-based shorthand
equivalent weight
vscombining weight
  • Specialized
1 8.1

Amount of a substance that reacts with a fixed amount of another substance

uses oxygen set at eight to fix the atomic weight rather than dividing by valence

Surface Forms

combining weight singular
combining weights plural

Morphology

combine + weight

The parts 'combine' and 'weight' signal that this is a measure of weight used when substances combine, so a learner can guess it relates to how much of something is needed to combine. However, the precise technical sense (atomic weight relative to a standard combining quantity, e.g. oxygen = 8) is specialized chemistry knowledge and not fully predictable from the constituents alone, so it is only partially transparent to a B1 learner.

Etymology

Combining weight comes from a simple recipe image: combining means 'joining' and weight means how much of one element you need to join with a fixed amount of another, often with oxygen set at 8. So, combining weight is the number chemists used to show the 'atomic weight' or 'amount' of an element that will join with that standard amount.