n. [ Cf. F. équivalence, LL. aequivalentia. ]
v. t. To be equivalent or equal to; to counterbalance. [ R. ] Sir T. Browne. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. (Chem.) Quality, state, or degree, of a multivalent element, atom, or radical. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. [ L. praevalentia: cf. F. prévalence. See Prevail. ] The quality or condition of being prevalent; superior strength, force, or influence; general existence, reception, or practice; wide extension;
The duke better knew what kind of argument were of prevalence with him. Clarendon. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. (Chem.) The quality or state of being quadrivalent; tetravalence. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. [ L. quantus how much + E. valence. ] (Chem.) Valence. [ Archaic ] [ 1913 Webster ]
n. (Chem.) The quality or state of being tetravalent; quadrivalence. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. (Chem.) The quality or state of being trivalent. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. (Chem.) The quality or state of being univalent. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. [ From L. valens, -entis, p. pr. of valere to have power, to be strong. See Valiant. ] (Chem.) The degree of combining power of an atom (or radical) as shown by the number of atoms of hydrogen (or of other monads, as chlorine, sodium, etc.) with which it will combine, or for which it can be substituted, or with which it can be compared; thus, an atom of hydrogen is a monad, and has a valence of one; the atoms of oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon are respectively dyads, triads, and tetrads, and have a valence respectively of two, three, and four. [ 1913 Webster ]
☞ The valence of certain elements varies in different compounds. Valence in degree may extend as high as seven or eight, as in the cases of iodine and osmium respectively. The doctrine of valence has been of fundamental importance in distinguishing the equivalence from the atomic weight, and is an essential factor in explaining the chemical structures of compounds. [ 1913 Webster ]