electropositivityn.
/ᵻˌlɛktrə(ʊ)pɒzᵻˈtɪvᵻti/, U.S. /əˌlɛktrəˌpɑzəˈtɪvᵻdi/, /iˌlɛktrəˌpɑzəˈtɪvᵻdi/ Chemistry.
The state or property of being electropositive; the degree to which an element, atom, etc., tends to lose electrons in chemical reactions. Cf. note at electronegativity n.
ΚΠ
1837 J. D. Dana Syst. Mineral. 82 When chemistry has so far advanced, that the relative electro-negativity, (if I may so call it,) or electro-positivity, of the several elements, is fully known..we shall probably be able to construct a natural arrangement of minerals on chemical principles.
1918 Science 22 Nov. 523/2 A crucial test of this hypothesis can be made upon the oligochaete worms, where..there are two regions of high metabolic rate and of electropositivity.
1944 G. W. Wheland Theory of Resonance ii. 38 The rarity of the three-electron bond..is due to the requirement that the atoms joined be equivalent or..have very nearly the same degree of electronegativity and electropositivity.
2001 O. Sacks Uncle Tungsten xiv. 158 The degree of electropositivity among metals went with their chemical reactivity, hence their ability to reduce or replace less positive elements.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2008; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1837