covalent bond

noun

: a chemical bond formed between atoms by the sharing of electrons

Examples of covalent bond in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Crosslinks in the form of covalent bonds between polymer molecules keep the mixture of glucose and sucrose in place and result in a candy that is solid but potentially squishy—more crosslinks result in a harder final product. Elizabeth Rayne, Ars Technica, 8 June 2023 The researchers’ main innovation, reported in a paper in Advanced Functional Materials, was to create a new ink formulation that results in a polymer featuring a special kind of chemical bond, known as a dynamic covalent bond. IEEE Spectrum, 7 Mar. 2023 But hydrogen has little energy density, with just a single covalent bond between two atoms to be broken. Jonathan M. Gitlin, Ars Technica, 20 Apr. 2022 In the early 20th century, German chemists such as Walter Heitler and Fritz London showed the covalent bond could be understood using quantum mechanics. Jeannette Garcia, Scientific American, 15 Mar. 2021 In chemistry, a covalent bond is a chemical connection made through sharing and this bond set the foundation for Jennifer Yang in bringing her distillery, Covalent Spirits, to life. Megan Woodward, baltimoresun.com/maryland/carroll, 26 Aug. 2020 More specifically, the UV-C light damages nucleic acids inside these microorganisms, forming covalent bonds that prevent DNA from unzipping for replication. Caroline Delbert, Popular Mechanics, 21 Apr. 2020

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'covalent bond.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1939, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of covalent bond was in 1939

Dictionary Entries Near covalent bond

Cite this Entry

“Covalent bond.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/covalent%20bond. Accessed 20 Apr. 2024.

Medical Definition

covalent bond

noun
: a chemical bond formed between atoms by the sharing of electrons

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