Learn how to use the comparative “more covalent” and superlative “most covalent” with example sentences and differences.

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Notes from a Native English Speaker

Comparative adjectives help us to describe how good or bad something is when compared to something else. For example, something is taller than something else. Superlative adjectives help us to describe something as having the most or least of a particular characteristic within a group. This makes it easier and more accurate to talk about and compare things.

What is the comparative form of “covalent”?

The comparative form of “covalent” is “more covalent”.

Example

The bond between hydrogen and oxygen in water is more covalent than the bond between sodium and chlorine in salt.

Example

The carbon-carbon bond in ethane is more covalent than the carbon-oxygen bond in ethanol.

What is the superlative form of “covalent”?

The superlative form of “covalent” is “most covalent”.

Example

Among all the compounds, hydrogen fluoride has the most covalent bond.

Example

The carbon-nitrogen bond in cyanide is the most covalent bond known.

Why is this expression not used with most, more?

"Most" and "more" are used with "covalent" to form the comparatives and superlatives. The forms "more covalent" and "most covalent" are commonly used to indicate a higher degree of electron sharing in a chemical bond.

Does this expression have an irregular comparative/superlative form?

"Covalent" follows the regular pattern of using "more" and "most" for forming comparatives and superlatives.

Expressions with similar meanings to “more covalent”

Used to describe a bond that is more stable or has a higher degree of electron sharing.

Example

The nitrogen-nitrogen bond in nitrogen gas is stronger than the nitrogen-hydrogen bond in ammonia.

Used to indicate a bond that is more secure or has a higher level of electron sharing.

Example

The sulfur-sulfur bond in hydrogen sulfide is tighter than the sulfur-oxygen bond in sulfur dioxide.

Expressions with similar meanings to “most covalent”

Used to describe a bond that is the most stable or has the highest degree of electron sharing.

Example

The carbon-carbon bond in diamond is the strongest bond known.

Used to indicate a bond that is the most secure or has the highest level of electron sharing.

Example

The oxygen-oxygen bond in ozone is the tightest bond known.

Using than with comparative “more covalent”

When using the comparative form "more covalent" to compare two bonds, you would use "than" to connect the two parts of the comparison: Example: "The bond between hydrogen and oxygen in water is more covalent than the bond between sodium and chlorine in salt." Here, "than" is used to show that the degree of electron sharing in the bond between hydrogen and oxygen is higher than the degree of electron sharing in the bond between sodium and chlorine.

How can I use this expression in context?

“more covalent” and “most covalent” can be used in a variety of situations to compare speed.
  • 1Chemical Compounds

    Hydrogen chloride is more covalent than sodium chloride.

    Hydrogen chloride is more covalent than sodium chloride.

  • 2Organic Molecules

    The carbon-oxygen bond in an alcohol is the most covalent bond in the molecule.

    The carbon-oxygen bond in an alcohol is the most covalent bond in the molecule.

  • 3Inorganic Compounds

    The bond between nitrogen and oxygen in nitric acid is more covalent than the bond between nitrogen and hydrogen in ammonia.

    The bond between nitrogen and oxygen in nitric acid is more covalent than the bond between nitrogen and hydrogen in ammonia.

  • 4Biochemical Reactions

    The peptide bond in proteins is the most covalent bond involved in protein structure.

    The peptide bond in proteins is the most covalent bond involved in protein structure.

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