A covalent bond is formed as a result of what?

A covalent bond is defined as a chemical bond that arises from the sharing of an electron pair between two atoms. This sharing allows each atom to attain a full outer shell of electrons, which is particularly important for achieving stability according to the octet rule. In covalent bonding, typically, the shared electrons are attracted to the nuclei of both participating atoms, creating a strong bond that holds the atoms together.

This process is fundamentally different from the mechanism described by transferring an electron, which pertains to ionic bonding, where one atom donates an electron to another. Neither attracting a proton nor repulsing a neutron accurately describes the process of covalent bonding, as protons relate to the positive charge of the nucleus and neutrons do not play a role in chemical bonding. Thus, the correct answer highlights the crucial concept of shared electron pairs in the formation of covalent bonds.