Noun: polyvalence
- (chemistry) the state of having a valence greater than two
"The element's polyvalence allowed it to form complex compounds";
- polyvalency, multivalence, multivalency
- (toxicology) the state of being capable of counteracting more than one toxin, antigen or kind of microorganism
"The polyvalence of the new antibiotic made it effective against a wide range of bacteria";
- polyvalency
Derived forms: polyvalences
Type of: state
Encyclopedia: Polyvalence