Chemical bonding is the process by which two or more atoms are joined together to form a molecule. There are three main types of chemical bonds: ionic, covalent, and metallic.
In ionic bonding, one or more electrons are transferred from one atom to another, resulting in the formation of positively and negatively charged ions. These ions are then attracted to each other by electrostatic forces, forming an ionic bond.
In covalent bonding, atoms share electrons in order to achieve a more stable electron configuration. This sharing of electrons creates a bond between the atoms, known as a covalent bond.
In metallic bonding, electrons are delocalized and free to move throughout the structure of the metal. This creates a "sea of electrons" that holds the metal atoms together in a lattice structure.