What type of bond involves the sharing of one or more pairs of electrons?

The correct answer is a covalent bond. This type of bond occurs when two or more atoms share one or more pairs of electrons in order to achieve a full outer electron shell, which stabilizes the atoms involved. This sharing can vary; for example, in a single covalent bond, one pair of electrons is shared, while in a double or triple bond, two or three pairs of electrons are shared, respectively.

Covalent bonds typically form between nonmetals and are critical in the creation of molecules, allowing for the complex structures observed in organic chemistry and biological systems. The strength and characteristics of covalent bonds can vary based on the atoms involved and the number of shared electron pairs, but the fundamental principle of sharing electrons is key to understanding this type of bond.

In contrast, ionic bonds are formed through the transfer of electrons from one atom to another, resulting in the attraction between positively and negatively charged ions. Metallic bonds involve a "sea of electrons" that are shared among a lattice of metal atoms, leading to properties like conductivity and malleability. Polar bonds, which are a subtype of covalent bonds, occur when the electrons are shared unequally due to differences in electronegativity between the atoms, but the