What holds electrons in a covalent bond?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

In a covalent bond, electrons are held together by the attraction of the negatively charged electrons to the positively charged nuclei of both atoms involved. This results in a shared pair of electrons between the atoms, creating a stable molecule. Option A is incorrect as electron sharing does not make the atoms involved smaller and more compact. Option B is incorrect as an increase in potential energy would indicate an unstable bond rather than a stable bond. Option D is incorrect as covalent bonding occurs between the orbitals of two atoms and not within a single atom's orbital.

What Holds Electrons in a Covalent Bond