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

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

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

Answer: (D)

Sharing of electron pairs between atoms is a hallmark of covalent bonds. In covalent bonding, atoms share one or more pairs of electrons to fill their outer shells and become more stable, typically occurring between nonmetals with similar electronegativities. The number of shared pairs determines bond order (single, double, triple) and affects bond strength and length. Ionic bonds, by contrast, come from transferring electrons to form ions that are held together by electrostatic attraction. Hydrogen bonds are weaker attractions between a hydrogen atom attached to a highly electronegative atom and another electronegative atom nearby, not actual sharing of electrons. Metallic bonds involve a lattice of positively charged ions in a sea of delocalized electrons, not sharing electron pairs between specific atoms.

Sharing of electron pairs between atoms is a hallmark of covalent bonds. In covalent bonding, atoms share one or more pairs of electrons to fill their outer shells and become more stable, typically occurring between nonmetals with similar electronegativities. The number of shared pairs determines bond order (single, double, triple) and affects bond strength and length.

Ionic bonds, by contrast, come from transferring electrons to form ions that are held together by electrostatic attraction. Hydrogen bonds are weaker attractions between a hydrogen atom attached to a highly electronegative atom and another electronegative atom nearby, not actual sharing of electrons. Metallic bonds involve a lattice of positively charged ions in a sea of delocalized electrons, not sharing electron pairs between specific atoms.