Which of the following best describes the formation of a covalent bond as shown in Figure 1?

• A. One atom transfers electrons to another atom.
• B. Two atoms share one or more pairs of electrons.
• C. Atoms are held together by electrostatic attraction between ions.
• D. Electrons are completely lost from both atoms.

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the nature of a covalent bond: it involves the sharing of electrons between atoms rather than the transfer of electrons.
2. Recall that in ionic bonding, electrons are transferred from one atom to another, resulting in ions held together by electrostatic attraction, which is different from covalent bonding.
3. Recognize that the statement 'Two atoms share one or more pairs of electrons' correctly describes covalent bonding because the shared electrons allow each atom to achieve a more stable electron configuration.
4. Note that the other options describe different types of bonding or electron behavior: electron transfer (ionic bonding), electrostatic attraction between ions (ionic bonding), and complete loss of electrons (which does not describe covalent bonding).
5. Conclude that the best description of covalent bond formation is the sharing of electron pairs between atoms.