Final answer:
A chemical bond is formed through the gaining, losing, or sharing of electrons to achieve a stable arrangement of the outer energy levels of atoms.
Step-by-step explanation:
A chemical bond is formed through the gaining, losing, or sharing of electrons. This process occurs when atoms are held together by attractive forces, allowing electrons to be shared between atoms, or exchanged between atoms involved in the bond. The sharing or exchange of electrons ensures that the outer energy levels of atoms are filled, leading to greater stability.
There are three main types of chemical bonds: covalent, ionic, and metallic bonds. Covalent bonds are formed when electrons are shared equally or unequally between atoms. Ionic bonds occur when electrons are transferred from one atom to another, which results in the formation of positively charged ions (cations) and negatively charged ions (anions). Metallic bonds involve a 'sea' of shared free-flowing electrons around metal cations.