What characterizes a covalent bond?

A covalent bond is characterized by the interaction of two positive nuclei, which share a pair of electrons. This sharing of electrons allows each nucleus to experience the attractive force from the shared electrons, effectively lowering the potential energy of the atoms and stabilizing the bond.

In a covalent bond, both atoms contribute at least one electron, and this mutual sharing helps achieve a noble gas electron configuration, enhancing the stability of the participating atoms. The nature of a covalent bond is often seen in molecules such as H₂ or O₂, where atoms share pairs of electrons to form stable chemical connections.

Understanding why this option is correct illustrates the fundamental nature of covalent bonding, as it emphasizes the dual attraction of positive nuclei for the shared electrons, which differentiates it distinctly from other types of chemical bonding, such as ionic bonding, where charged ions are involved rather than shared electrons.