When two atoms share a pair of electrons, the bond between them is called

• A. covalent
• B. ionic
• C. electrovalent
• D. metallic

Answer: (A)

Sharing electrons to complete outer electron shells leads to a covalent bond. When two atoms share a pair of electrons, neither atom transfers electrons to the other; instead, the shared electrons spend time around both nuclei, holding the atoms together as a molecule and often helping each atom reach a stable electronic configuration. This contrasts with ionic (electrons are transferred, creating charged ions that attract) and metallic bonding (a “sea” of electrons shared by many atoms in a metal). So, the scenario described—two atoms sharing a pair of electrons—best corresponds to a covalent bond.