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monatomic

American  
[mon-uh-tom-ik] / ˌmɒn əˈtɒm ɪk /

adjective

Chemistry.
  1. having one atom in the molecule.

  2. containing one replaceable atom or group.

  3. having a valence of one.


monatomic British  
/ ˌmɒnəˈtɒmɪk, ˌmɒnəʊəˈtɒmɪk /

adjective

  1. (of an element) having or consisting of single atoms

    argon is a monatomic gas

  2. (of a compound or molecule) having only one atom or group that can be replaced in a chemical reaction

  3. a less common word for monovalent

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms


Etymology

Origin of monatomic

First recorded in 1840–50; mon- + atomic


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.

See Examples For:

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

The oxidation number of a monatomic ion is equal to the ion’s charge.

From Textbooks ● Feb. 14, 2019

For example, the pure metalloids form covalent crystals like the nonmetals, but like the metals, they generally do not form monatomic anions.

From Textbooks ● Feb. 14, 2019

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

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

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