Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

covalent

Adjective

/koʊˈveɪlənt/

Definition

Covalent refers to a type of chemical bond where atoms share pairs of electrons.

Examples

Water is formed by covalent bonds between hydrogen and oxygen atoms.
In a covalent bond, atoms can share one or more pairs of electrons.
The structure of DNA contains covalent bonds that link the nucleotide units together.

Meaning

In chemistry, covalent bonds occur when two or more atoms join together by sharing electrons, which helps them achieve stability and fill their outer electron shells.