A covalent bond is formed when

• A. Transfer of electrons from one atom to another
• B. Sharing electrons
• C. Ionic attraction between ions
• D. Hydrogen bond

Answer: (B)

The key idea is that a covalent bond forms when atoms share electrons to fill their outer electron shells. In covalent bonding, atoms don’t transfer electrons; instead, they share one or more pairs of electrons so each atom can approach a stable electron configuration, often an octet. This sharing can be equal (nonpolar covalent) or unequal (polar covalent), depending on how strongly the atoms attract the shared electrons.

This is different from transferring electrons, which creates ions that attract each other through electrostatic forces—an ionic bond. It’s also different from a hydrogen bond, which is an intermolecular attraction between molecules, not a true covalent bond within a molecule.

So, the description that fits is sharing electrons.