All books

Professional

Apps About Coach Log in Start reading

Chemistry · Glossary

What is Homolysis and heterolysis?

Also known as: homolysis · heterolysis

Definition 18.5 University Chemistry — Year 1 · Chapter 18 — Electronic Effects and Reactive Intermediates

A covalent bond breaks by homolysis when each atom keeps one of the two bonding electrons, giving two radicals, and by heterolysis when one atom keeps both, giving a cation and an anion.

Read in context →