What type of bond is formed when electrons are shared between atoms?

The formation of a covalent bond occurs when two atoms share pairs of electrons. This type of bond typically forms between nonmetals, which have comparable electronegativities, allowing them to stabilize their electron configurations through sharing rather than transferring electrons. Sharing electrons enables each atom to achieve a more stable electron configuration that resembles that of noble gases, thereby fulfilling the octet rule for many elements.

In contrast, ionic bonds involve the transfer of electrons from one atom to another, resulting in the formation of charged ions that are held together by electrostatic forces. Hydrogen bonds are weak attractions that occur between a hydrogen atom covalently bonded to a more electronegative atom and another electronegative atom. Metallic bonds, on the other hand, involve a sea of delocalized electrons that are free to move around, which is characteristic of metals. All these bond types serve different purposes in chemical bonding, but only covalent bonds specifically entail the sharing of electrons.