What type of bond is characterized by the sharing of electrons?

The bond characterized by the sharing of electrons is known as a covalent bond. In a covalent bond, two atoms come together and share their valence electrons, allowing each atom to attain the electron configuration of a noble gas, which is a more stable configuration. This sharing can occur equally between the atoms, resulting in a nonpolar covalent bond, or unequally, leading to a polar covalent bond.

Covalent bonds typically form between non-metal atoms, which have similar electronegativities and thus a tendency to share electrons rather than transfer them, as seen in ionic bonds. In contrast, ionic bonds involve the complete transfer of electrons from one atom to another, resulting in the formation of charged ions. Metallic bonds involve the pooling of electrons in a shared electron sea, while hydrogen bonds are a type of weak attraction that occurs between a hydrogen atom covalently bonded to an electronegative atom and another electronegative atom.

Understanding the nature of different types of bonds is crucial in chemistry, as it helps explain the properties of substances and how they interact with one another.