Kovalentna vez

A covalent bond forming H₂ (right) where two hydrogen atoms share the two electrons

Zgodovina

Early concepts in covalent bonding arose from this kind of image of the molecule of methane. Covalent bonding is implied in the Lewis structure by indicating electrons shared between atoms.

Izraz kovalentna je v zvezi z vezavo prvič uporabljena leta 1919 od Irvinga Langmuirja v Journal of the American Chemical Society v članku z naslovom The Arrangement of Electrons in Atoms and Molekules. Langmuir je napisal, da bi vsi morali označiti z kovalentno vezjo število parov elektronov, kar si jih dam atom deli s sosedom.