Covalent bonding relies on an electrostatic force of attraction. What does this force exist between?

Covalent bonding involves the electrostatic force of attraction that exists between two key entities:

1. Nuclei of the Atoms: In a covalent bond, two atoms share pairs of electrons. The positive charges of the atomic nuclei attract the shared electrons, creating a stable bond between the atoms.

2. Shared Electrons: The shared electrons themselves also exert a force of attraction towards both nuclei, which helps to hold the bond together.

This interplay of attractive forces ensures that the atoms remain closely associated with each other, enabling the formation of molecules. The balance between the attraction of the positively charged nuclei for the negatively charged shared electrons and the repulsion of the nuclei for each other (when they come too close) is what gives covalent bonds their stability.