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.
Can you crack our science word of the day puzzle, Chain Word?
