What type of bond occurs when electrons are shared between atoms?

A covalent bond is formed when electrons are shared between atoms, allowing each atom to achieve a more stable electron configuration. This type of bond typically occurs between nonmetal atoms with similar electronegativities, meaning they have a relatively equal attraction for the shared electrons.

In a covalent bond, the sharing of electrons can take different forms: in nonpolar covalent bonds, the electrons are shared equally, resulting in a balanced distribution of charge; in polar covalent bonds, the electrons are shared unequally, leading to partial charges on the atoms involved due to differences in electronegativity.

This mechanism is fundamental to the formation of molecules and is crucial for the structure and function of organic compounds, which are essential for biological processes. Whereas ionic bonds involve the transfer of electrons leading to the attraction between charged ions, and hydrogen bonds are weak attractions not involving electron sharing, it's the sharing of electrons in covalent bonds that enables the formation of the diverse range of molecules necessary for life.