What type of bond involves the sharing of electron pairs between atoms?

The sharing of electron pairs between atoms characterizes a covalent bond. In this type of bond, atoms come together in such a way that they can share electrons, often allowing each atom to achieve a more stable electron configuration resembling that of noble gases. This shared electron pair creates a strong connection between the atoms involved, making covalent bonds typically very strong.

Covalent bonds are crucial in the formation of molecules, such as water (H2O) and carbon dioxide (CO2), where the shared electrons enable the atoms to fulfill their valence shell requirements, leading to chemical stability. Understanding this concept is foundational in chemistry, as it elucidates how elements interact in complex biological and physical processes.

The other types of bonds mentioned do not involve electron sharing in the same way. Ionic bonds involve the transfer of electrons from one atom to another, resulting in charged ions attracting each other. Hydrogen bonds are weak attractions between slightly positive hydrogen atoms and more electronegative atoms, typically not involving any coalition of electrons. Metallic bonds involve a "sea of electrons" that are delocalized around a lattice of metal atoms, but do not entail the sharing of specific electron pairs as seen in covalent bonds.