In chemistry and biology, 'univalent' refers to an atom, ion, or molecule that has a valence of one, meaning it can form a single bond with another atom. In genetics, it describes chromosomes that do not associate or pair with others during meiosis. This term highlights the significance of valency in chemical bonding or the structure of chromosomes.
Univalent meaning with examples
- In the ionization process, the sodium atom is considered univalent because it can lose one electron to form a singly charged cation. This property is crucial in various chemical reactions where sodium needs to interact with other elements to create compounds such as sodium chloride, which is essential for human life. Understanding the univalent nature of sodium assists chemists in predicting its reactivity.
- During meiosis, univalent chromosomes can lead to unique genetic outcomes. For instance, in the case of certain plants, some chromosomes remain unpaired during cytokinesis, which can result in unusual traits in the subsequent generation. By studying these univalent chromosomes, geneticists can learn more about inheritance and mutation mechanisms that contribute to plant evolution.
- In a biochemical context, univalent antibodies are utilized in diagnostic tests for their specificity towards antigens. For example, univalent binding allows researchers to focus on a single type of pathogen with minimal cross-reactivity, enhancing the accuracy of tests for infectious diseases. The efficiency of univalent antibodies is particularly important in developing targeted therapies.
- In physics, the concept of univalent particles in a model can help simplify complex interactions in a plasma state. univalent particles help researchers in understanding fundamental behaviors in plasma physics, enabling a detailed analysis of how these particles might interact under variable conditions. Such studies are vital for advancements in energy production from fusion processes.
Univalent Synonyms
detached discrete independent individual isolated lone monovalent onefold one-valent self-contained simple single-valent singular solitary solo standalone uniatomic unipolar unique unpairedUnivalent Antonyms
accordion aggregated collated combined complex composite coupled divalent double engaged fused gathered grouped interconnected linked many-valent multiple multivalent paired polyvalentUnivalent Crossword Answers
10 Letters
MONOVALENT