valence

A noun used in biology to describe the relative capacity to unite or react with antigens or a biological substrate, and in chemistry to refer to the combining power of an atom or radical expressed in terms of the number of hydrogen atoms it can combine with or displace.

• 🇩🇪Substantiv, das in der Biologie die relative Fähigkeit beschreibt, mit Antigenen oder einem biologischen Substrat zu binden oder zu reagieren, und in der Chemie die Bindungsfähigkeit eines Atoms oder Radikals bezeichnet, ausgedrückt durch die Anzahl der Wasserstoffatome, mit denen es sich verbinden oder die es ersetzen kann.

1. Chemical combining power C1 formal scientific

   The property of an atom or radical that determines its combining power, expressed in terms of the number of hydrogen atoms it can combine with or replace.

   • Carbon has a valence of four, allowing it to form four bonds.
   • The valence of oxygen is typically two.
   • Understanding valence is fundamental to predicting chemical reactions.

   🇩🇪Valenz

   Synonyme: valency

2. Biological interaction capacity C2 formal scientific

   The relative capacity of a substance, such as an antigen or antibody, to unite, react, or interact with a biological substrate.

   • The valence of an antibody determines how many antigens it can bind.
   • Researchers studied the valence of the virus's surface proteins.
   • The antigen's valence influences the strength of the immune response.

   🇩🇪Valenz

   Synonyme: reactivity

• valences plural form
• valences' possessive plural form
• valence's possessive singular form