Which characteristic is true of covalent bonding?

Covalent bonding is defined by the sharing of electron pairs between atoms. In a covalent bond, two atoms, typically nonmetals, share one or more pairs of electrons to achieve greater stability and fulfill the octet rule, which states that atoms tend to bond in such a way that they have eight electrons in their outer shell. This sharing allows both atoms to attain a full valence shell, leading to stable molecular structures.

The correct nature of covalent bonding contrasts with ionic bonding, where electrons are transferred from one atom to another, leading to the formation of ions. In covalent bonds, there are no ions formed; rather, the atoms remain neutral. Additionally, covalent bonding does not occur strictly between metals, as it primarily takes place between nonmetals. Therefore, the essence of covalent bonding lies in the electron-sharing mechanism, which distinguishes it from other types of bonding, like ionic or metallic bonding.