electron pair
Americannoun
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Chemistry. two electrons occupying the same orbital in an atom or molecule; two electrons working together, especially forming a nonpolar covalent bond between atoms.
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Physics. an electron and a positron produced in a reaction, as by a high-energy photon.
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Two electrons functioning or regarded as functioning together, especially two electrons that form a covalent bond between atoms.
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An electron and a positron produced by a high-energy photon.
Etymology
Origin of electron pair
First recorded in 1930–35
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.
However, Cooper’s theory described only the formation of a single electron pair.
From Nature
The crystal structure contains cubes of eight sodium atoms; half of these are filled with helium atoms, and the other half are each occupied by an electron pair, binding the sodium atoms together.
From Nature
If they don't have this number as single atoms, they often share with their neighbours, each electron pair constituting a single chemical bond.
From Scientific American
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.