Which type of bond involves the sharing of electron pairs between atoms?

The sharing of electron pairs between atoms is characteristic of a covalent bond. In this type of bond, atoms come together and share one or more pairs of electrons to achieve a full outer shell of electrons, which contributes to their stability. This electron-sharing process allows both atoms to attain a more stable electronic configuration, often resembling that of the nearest noble gas.

For example, in a molecule of water (H2O), each hydrogen atom shares one electron with the oxygen atom, leading to the formation of covalent bonds that hold the molecule together. This contrasts with other types of bonds: ionic bonds involve the transfer of electrons from one atom to another, hydrogen bonds are primarily attractions between polar molecules involving hydrogen, and metallic bonds generally involve the sharing of free electrons among a lattice of metal atoms. Understanding these differences is key to grasping the fundamentals of chemical bonding.