Which statement defines a covalent bond?

Which statement defines a covalent bond?

• A. A bond formed by transfer of electrons between atoms.
• B. A bond formed by sharing electrons between atoms.
• C. A bond formed by magnetic attraction.
• D. A bond formed by completely removing electrons from both atoms.

Answer: (B)

Sharing electrons to fill outer electron shells is how a covalent bond forms. When two non-metal atoms come together, they can share one or more pairs of electrons so that each atom effectively has access to a complete outer shell. The shared electrons spend time in the region between the two nuclei and are attracted to both, which holds the atoms together as a molecule. This is different from transferring electrons to make ions, which creates an electrostatic attraction between positively and negatively charged ions (an ionic bond). Magnetic attraction isn’t the mechanism behind chemical bonds, and removing electrons from both atoms would produce ions rather than a bonded molecule. A simple example is the hydrogen molecule, where two hydrogen atoms share one electron each to form a single covalent bond. Covalent bonding can involve single, double, or triple bonds depending on how many electron pairs are shared, and it’s most common between non-metals.

Sharing electrons to fill outer electron shells is how a covalent bond forms. When two non-metal atoms come together, they can share one or more pairs of electrons so that each atom effectively has access to a complete outer shell. The shared electrons spend time in the region between the two nuclei and are attracted to both, which holds the atoms together as a molecule. This is different from transferring electrons to make ions, which creates an electrostatic attraction between positively and negatively charged ions (an ionic bond). Magnetic attraction isn’t the mechanism behind chemical bonds, and removing electrons from both atoms would produce ions rather than a bonded molecule.

A simple example is the hydrogen molecule, where two hydrogen atoms share one electron each to form a single covalent bond. Covalent bonding can involve single, double, or triple bonds depending on how many electron pairs are shared, and it’s most common between non-metals.