Between which types of atoms do dative covalent bonds occur?

Dative covalent bonds, also known as coordinate covalent bonds, occur specifically when one atom donates a pair of electrons to another atom that accepts them. This type of bonding is characterized by the fact that both electrons in the bond originate from a single atom, differentiating it from standard covalent bonds where each atom contributes one electron.

In the context of various types of atoms, this means that a dative bond can form between different kinds of atoms, such as between metals and non-metals or non-metals and non-metals, as long as one atom has a lone pair of electrons to donate and the other atom has an empty orbital to accept those electrons. This process allows for the formation of complex structures, such as coordination compounds in chemistry, demonstrating the versatility of dative bonds in forming stable interactions between atoms.

Thus, the concept that a bond occurs where one atom donates a pair of electrons while another accepts them is key to understanding dative covalent bonds.