What type of bond is characterized by the sharing of electrons between atoms?

The type of bond characterized by the sharing of electrons between atoms is a covalent bond. In a covalent bond, two or more atoms come together and share pairs of electrons in order to achieve a more stable electron configuration, typically resembling that of noble gases. This sharing can occur equally between atoms of similar electronegativity or unequally, leading to polar covalent bonds when the atoms have different electronegativities.

Covalent bonding is commonly found in organic compounds and many inorganic compounds, facilitating the formation of molecules such as water (H₂O) and carbon dioxide (CO₂), where each molecule is held together by shared electrons.

In contrast, the other types of bonds involve different mechanisms: ionic bonds involve the transfer of electrons from one atom to another, resulting in charged ions that attract each other; hydrogen bonds are a type of weak interaction that occurs when hydrogen is covalently bonded to a highly electronegative atom; and metallic bonds arise from the attraction between conduction electrons and positively charged metal ions. Understanding the nature of covalent bonds is fundamental in both chemistry and biochemistry, especially in the study of molecular structures and interactions.