How is electronegativity related to covalent bonding?

Covalent bonds form when atoms share electrons. Atoms with similar electronegativities attract shared electrons with roughly similar strength, making sharing favorable. Atoms with very different electronegativities are more likely to transfer electrons, which is characteristic of ionic bonding. Therefore, the correct choice is “Atoms must have similar electronegativities in order to share electrons in a covalent bond.”

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