What type of bond involves the sharing of electron pairs between atoms?

The type of bond that involves the sharing of electron pairs between atoms is known as a covalent bond. In a covalent bond, two or more atoms share electrons in order to achieve a full outer shell of electrons, thereby reaching a more stable electronic configuration. This sharing of electron pairs leads to the formation of molecules and is particularly common between nonmetal atoms, which have similar electronegativities.

For instance, in a water molecule (H₂O), the oxygen atom shares electron pairs with two hydrogen atoms. This interaction allows both the hydrogen atoms and the oxygen atom to effectively fill their outer electron shells, resulting in a stable structure.

The characteristics of covalent bonds also include their directional nature, which influences the shape of the molecules formed, and their relatively lower melting and boiling points in comparison to ionic compounds.