Which type of chemical bond is primarily responsible for holding the atoms together within a molecule?

• A. Hydrogen bonds
• B. Covalent bonds
• C. Metallic bonds
• D. Ionic bonds

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that a chemical bond is the force that holds atoms together in a molecule or compound.
2. Recognize the main types of chemical bonds: covalent bonds, ionic bonds, metallic bonds, and hydrogen bonds.
3. Recall that covalent bonds involve the sharing of electron pairs between atoms, which directly holds atoms together within a molecule.
4. Note that ionic bonds result from the electrostatic attraction between oppositely charged ions, typically forming between atoms in different molecules or in ionic compounds rather than within a single molecule.
5. Understand that hydrogen bonds and metallic bonds are types of intermolecular or lattice interactions, not the primary bonds holding atoms together within a molecule.