Which statement best describes why covalent bonds form?

• A. Atoms lose electrons to form positively charged ions.
• B. Atoms transfer electrons to achieve electrical neutrality.
• C. Atoms share electrons to achieve a stable octet in their valence shell.
• D. Atoms gain electrons to form negatively charged ions.

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that covalent bonds form when atoms share electrons rather than transferring them completely.
2. Recall the octet rule, which states that atoms tend to achieve a full valence shell of 8 electrons to become more stable.
3. Recognize that sharing electrons allows each atom in the bond to count the shared electrons toward its valence shell, helping both atoms reach a stable octet.
4. Contrast this with ionic bonding, where atoms transfer electrons to form charged ions, which is not the case in covalent bonding.
5. Conclude that the best description of covalent bond formation is that atoms share electrons to achieve a stable octet in their valence shell.