Science word of they day: Covalent
What does "covalent" mean?
Science word of the day: Covalent
Pronunciation: Coh-VAY'-lent
What it means: In chemistry, a covalent bond occurs when two atoms share a pair of electrons. Electrons zip around atomic nuclei at different energy levels, or "shells." An atom fills its shells with electrons starting from the lowest-energy shell to the highest-energy one, which is called the valence shell. Valence-shell electrons can interact with the valence shells of other atoms. When two atoms get close enough, their valence electrons can feel the pull from both nuclei at once, binding the two atoms together into a stable molecule.
How to use it in a sentence: When atoms share electrons in a covalent bond, they form some of the most stable bonds in chemistry — which is good news, because these bonds are also the basis of most organic molecules and organisms, including you.
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Stephanie Pappas is a contributing writer for Live Science, covering topics ranging from geoscience to archaeology to the human brain and behavior. She was previously a senior writer for Live Science but is now a freelancer based in Denver, Colorado, and regularly contributes to Scientific American and The Monitor, the monthly magazine of the American Psychological Association. Stephanie received a bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of South Carolina and a graduate certificate in science communication from the University of California, Santa Cruz.
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