tetravalentadj.
/tɪˈtravələnt//tɛtrəˈveɪlənt/ Chemistry.
Combining with four atoms of hydrogen or other monovalent element, or with four monovalent radicals, or capable of replacing four atoms of monovalent elements in a compound; thus the atoms of carbon and of lead are tetravalent in the compounds CH4, Pb(C2H5)4; = quadrivalent adj. 1.
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the world > matter > chemistry > valency > [adjective] > having a valency of four
tetratomic1862
quadrivalent1865
tetradic1868
tetravalent1868
1868 A. W. Williamson Chem. for Students 124 Oxygen is..called a divalent element. A similar reasoning shows nitrogen to be trivalent; and carbon is tetravalent.
1887 Athenæum 13 Aug. 217/1 Proof is thus afforded that these elements [sulphur and selenium] are at least tetravalent in function.
1976 Sci. Amer. Dec. 33/1 In the solvents that were used..tetravalent plutonium ions, Pu4+ (plutonium atoms from which four electrons have been removed), are soluble.
Derivatives
tetravalence n. the quality or fact of being tetravalent; quadrivalence.
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the world > matter > chemistry > valency > [noun] > valency of four > quality of being quadrivalent
quadrivalence1869
tetravalence1887
tetravalency1913
1887 Trans. Royal Soc. Edinb. 32 456 The tetravalence of Carbon unsatiated by the bivalence of Oxygen.
tetraˈvalency n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > chemistry > valency > [noun] > valency of four > quality of being quadrivalent
quadrivalence1869
tetravalence1887
tetravalency1913
1913 London, Edinb., & Dublin Philos. Mag. 6th Ser. 26 495 The observed trivalency and tetravalency respectively of these elements.
1982 Nature 25 Nov. 386/1 Organic chemistry, thanks to the tetravalency of carbon and the stability of its incestuous bonds, is responsible for most of the compounds.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1911; most recently modified version published online December 2018).
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adj.1868