valence electron

noun, Chemistry.

an electron of an atom, located in the outermost shell (valence shell) of the atom, that can be transferred to or shared with another atom.

Origin of valence electron

1925-1930

First recorded in 1925-30

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2017.
Cite This Source

valence-shell in Science

valence electron
An electron in one of the outer shells of an atom that can participate in forming chemical bonds with other atoms.

The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source

What Is the Difference Between Discreet and Discrete?
Learn the correct uses of these two commonly confused homophones.
What Character Was Removed from the Alphabet?
What mistaken pronunciation gave this character its name?
Apostrophes 101
This small mark has two primary uses: to signify possession or omitted letters.
How Do I Get a Word into the Dictionary?
People invent new words all the time, but which ones actually make it?

Few English speakers likely know this word

Scrabble Words With Friends

Heartbreak