Which bond is likely to form between two nonmetals?

The bond that is likely to form between two nonmetals is a covalent bond. This type of bond occurs when two nonmetals share electrons in order to achieve a stable electron configuration, typically aiming for a full outer shell similar to the noble gases. Nonmetals have similar electronegativities and tend to pull electrons towards themselves, leading to the sharing rather than complete transfer of electrons, which is characteristic of covalent bonding.

In contrast, an ionic bond typically occurs between a nonmetal and a metal. This bond involves the transfer of electrons from one atom to another, resulting in the formation of charged ions. In metallic bonds, metal atoms share a pool of electrons, which contributes to properties like conductivity and malleability, but this type of bonding does not occur between nonmetals. A network bond is a more specific type of strong covalent bond found in large structures, such as diamond or silicon carbide, but it is also characterized by shared electrons in a network format rather than isolated atoms. Thus, covalent bonding is the most representative and likely formation between two nonmetals.