Final answer:
The type of bond where electrons are shared between bonded atoms is known as a covalent bond. It includes the sharing of one, two, or three pairs of electrons, forming single, double, or triple bonds, respectively. When atoms share electrons equally it is nonpolar, but with differing electronegativities, a polar bond can form.
Step-by-step explanation:
The type of bond where electrons are shared between bonded atoms is known as a covalent bond. This occurs when the electronegativity difference between the bonded atoms is low, typically less than 1.9, leading to a moderate or equal distribution of electrons. In covalent bonds, the shared electrons are found in the overlapping atomic orbitals, filling the valence shells of both atoms and thus stabilizing them.
There are different types of covalent bonds depending on the number of shared electron pairs. A single covalent bond involves sharing one pair of electrons, depicted as H—H for hydrogen gas. A double bond shares two pairs of electrons, and a triple bond shares three electron pairs.
When atoms of the same element form a covalent bond, such as the two atoms in a chlorine molecule (Cl₂), they share electrons equally. However, when different types of atoms bond, the sharing may not be equal, resulting in a polar covalent bond where the electron density is asymmetrical. This variation arises due to differences in electronegativity between the atoms involved in the bond.