What type of bond is characterized by atoms sharing electrons?

A covalent bond is characterized by the sharing of electrons between atoms. This type of bond typically occurs between nonmetal atoms that have similar electronegativities, meaning they have a comparable ability to attract electrons. When atoms come together to form a covalent bond, they can share one or more pairs of electrons. This sharing allows each atom to attain a more stable electron configuration, often resembling that of the nearest noble gas configuration.

In contrast, ionic bonds involve the transfer of electrons from one atom to another, resulting in the formation of charged ions. Metallic bonds, on the other hand, are characterized by a "sea" of delocalized electrons that are shared among a lattice of metal atoms, which is a different mechanism than sharing electrons directly between two specific atoms. Hydrogen bonds are weak attractions that occur between a hydrogen atom covalently bonded to an electronegative atom and another electronegative atom. Therefore, the unique trait of electron sharing in covalent bonds sets it apart from these other types of bonding interactions.