Which description fits a covalent bond?

A covalent bond is accurately described as the sharing of electrons between atoms. This type of bond typically occurs between nonmetals, where atoms share one or more pairs of electrons to achieve a full outer electron shell, which leads to increased stability. The shared electrons allow each atom to attain a more stable electronic configuration, akin to that of noble gases.

In covalent bonding, both atoms contribute to the shared pair of electrons, resulting in a strong mutual attraction that holds the two atoms together. This differs significantly from the transfer of electrons that occurs in ionic bonds, where one atom gives up one or more electrons to another, leading to the formation of charged ions that attract each other.

The attraction between oppositely charged ions and the bonds formed by ionic compounds are indicative of ionic bonding, which is a separate chemical mechanism from covalent bonding. Understanding these distinctions is essential in the study of chemical bonding and molecular structure.