Which type of bond is characterized by sharing one pair of electrons?

A bond characterized by sharing one pair of electrons is called a covalent bond. In a covalent bond, two atoms come together and share their valence electrons, which allows each atom to attain a full outer shell of electrons, achieving greater stability. This equal sharing of electrons is particularly evident between two nonmetals.

Covalent bonds can vary in strength depending on the number of shared electron pairs: a single covalent bond involves the sharing of one pair of electrons, a double bond involves two pairs, and a triple bond involves three pairs. This makes covalent bonding essential in the formation of many organic compounds and fundamental biological molecules, such as DNA, proteins, and carbohydrates.

In contrast, ionic bonds form through the transfer of electrons from one atom to another, leading to the formation of charged ions that attract each other. Hydrogen bonds are weaker intermolecular interactions formed between a hydrogen atom bonded to an electronegative atom and another electronegative atom. Metallic bonds involve a sea of delocalized electrons that are free to move around a lattice of metal cations. Therefore, the sharing of one pair of electrons specifically defines a covalent bond.