monatomic
Americanadjective
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having one atom in the molecule.
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containing one replaceable atom or group.
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having a valence of one.
adjective
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(of an element) having or consisting of single atoms
argon is a monatomic gas
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(of a compound or molecule) having only one atom or group that can be replaced in a chemical reaction
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a less common word for monovalent
Other Word Forms
- monatomically adverb
Etymology
Origin of monatomic
Vocabulary lists containing monatomic
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The noble gases are all monatomic, whereas the other nonmetal gases—hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, fluorine, and chlorine—normally exist as the diatomic molecules H2, N2, O2, F2, and Cl2.
From Textbooks • Feb. 14, 2019
Most monatomic ions behave as charged spheres, and their attraction for ions of opposite charge is the same in every direction.
From Textbooks • Feb. 14, 2019
Read the labels of several commercial products and identify monatomic ions of at least six main group elements contained in the products.
From Textbooks • Feb. 14, 2019
Reinhardt, A. & Doye, J. P. K. Free energy landscapes for homogeneous nucleation of ice for a monatomic water model.
From Nature • Nov. 7, 2017
Its ratio of specific heats has very nearly the ideal value 1.666, appropriate to a monatomic molecule.
From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 13, Slice 2 "Hearing" to "Helmond" by Various
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
