What type of bonds result from the sharing of electrons?

The correct answer is covalent bonds, which result from the sharing of electrons between two or more atoms. In a covalent bond, each atom contributes at least one electron to form a shared pair, creating a strong bond that holds the atoms together. This type of bonding typically occurs between nonmetal atoms, which have similar electronegativities; they share electrons to achieve a more stable electron configuration, often resembling that of noble gases.

Ionic bonds, on the other hand, involve the transfer of electrons from one atom to another, resulting in the formation of charged ions. Metallic bonds are characterized by a 'sea of electrons' that are shared collectively among many atoms, providing metals their unique properties such as electrical conductivity and malleability. Hydrogen bonds are weaker interactions that occur between molecules due to dipole-dipole interactions, particularly between hydrogen and electronegative atoms like oxygen or nitrogen. They are not formed by direct electron sharing.