What type of bond forms when two atoms share one or more pairs of electrons?

• A. Ionic bond
• B. Covalent bond
• C. Hydrogen bond
• D. Polar

Answer: (B)

When atoms share one or more pairs of electrons, they form a covalent bond. This sharing lets each atom count the shared electrons toward filling its outer shell, often achieving a stable configuration like the octet. The bond can be single, double, or triple depending on how many electron pairs are shared, and it determines the molecule’s strength and shape.

Ionic bonds come from transferring electrons to create oppositely charged ions that attract. Hydrogen bonds are not bonds that join atoms into a molecule; they are weaker attractions between a hydrogen atom and a highly electronegative atom in a nearby molecule. Polar describes uneven charge distribution, which can occur in covalent bonds (polar covalent) but isn’t the type of bond itself. So, sharing electrons to form bonds is the hallmark of covalent bonding.