What type of bonds are characteristic of simple molecular structures?

Simple molecular structures are characterized by covalent bonds, where atoms share pairs of electrons. In these structures, molecules are formed from non-metal atoms that bond together. The covalent bonds within the molecules hold the atoms together and are generally strong.

However, when considering the interactions between these molecules, it’s important to note that simple molecular substances typically have weak intermolecular forces, such as van der Waals forces or hydrogen bonds, but these are not the bonds that make up the molecules themselves.

Ionic bonds, found in ionic compounds, involve the transfer of electrons from one atom to another, resulting in the formation of charged ions, which is not the case in simple molecular structures. Metallic bonds, which occur in metals, involve a "sea of electrons" shared among a lattice of metal cations, and are distinctly different from the sharing of electrons in covalent bonds.