Chemistry Regents Practice Test 2026 – The All-in-One Guide to Exam Success!

A covalent bond is characterized by the sharing of electrons between two atoms. This type of bond typically occurs between nonmetals, which have similar electronegativities. By sharing electrons, each atom can achieve a more stable electron configuration, often resembling that of noble gases. This mutual sharing allows the involved atoms to bond more tightly together, forming molecules.

In contrast, the transfer of electrons from one atom to another generally describes ionic bonds, where one atom loses electrons (becoming a cation) and another atom gains those electrons (becoming an anion). The formation of cations and anions is closely associated with ionic bonding rather than covalent bonding. Additionally, the combination of metals and nonmetals often leads to ionic bonds due to the difference in electronegativity, rather than covalent bonds which typically form between nonmetals. Thus, the key characteristic of covalent bonding is accurately captured by the sharing of electrons.