Which of the following types of bonding involves the sharing of electrons?

The correct response is covalent bonding because this type of bonding specifically involves the sharing of electrons between atoms. In covalent bonds, two or more nonmetals can share pairs of electrons, leading to the formation of stable molecules. This sharing allows each atom to attain a full outer shell of electrons, which is a key aspect of achieving stability according to the octet rule.

In contrast, ionic bonding occurs when electrons are transferred from one atom to another, resulting in the formation of ions that attract each other due to their opposite charges. Metallic bonding involves a 'sea of electrons' that are delocalized around positively charged metal ions, allowing for conductivity and malleability but does not involve the sharing of electrons in the way covalent bonding does. Hydrogen bonding is a weak interaction that occurs between a hydrogen atom bonded to a highly electronegative atom and another electronegative atom, and does not involve the sharing or transfer of electrons as found in covalent or ionic bonds.