Which type of bond involves the sharing of valence electrons?

The type of bond that involves the sharing of valence electrons is a covalent bond. In a covalent bond, two atoms come together and share one or more pairs of electrons in order to achieve a more stable electronic configuration. This sharing allows each atom to attain a full outer electron shell, which is often a driving force behind chemical bonding.

For instance, in a molecule of water (H2O), each hydrogen atom shares one of its electrons with the oxygen atom, resulting in a stable structure where all atoms involved have achieved a filled valence shell. This is fundamental in understanding molecular formation and behavior, making covalent bonds critical in the study of chemistry and biochemistry.

Ionic bonds, on the other hand, involve the transfer of electrons from one atom to another, resulting in oppositely charged ions that attract each other. Hydrogen bonds are a type of weak interaction that occurs between molecules with polar covalent bonds, typically involving hydrogen atoms. Metallic bonds are characterized by a 'sea of electrons' that are delocalized across a lattice of metal cations, which is different from the sharing in covalent bonds. Each of these types of bonding has its own unique properties and implications in different substances, but the sharing of electrons distinguishes