In a covalent bond one atom can attract the shared electrons more what than the other atom can?

In a covalent bond, when one atom attracts the shared electrons more strongly than the other, it creates a polar covalent bond. This occurs due to differences in electronegativity between the two atoms, where the atom with higher electronegativity pulls the shared electrons closer, resulting in a partial negative charge on that atom and a partial positive charge on the other. This uneven distribution of electron density leads to molecular polarity, influencing the molecule's physical properties and reactivity.