In chemistry, heterolysis (from Greek ἑτερος, heteros, "different," and λυσις, lusis, "loosening") is chemical bond cleavage of a neutral molecule generating a cation and an anion. In this process the two electrons that make up the bond are assigned to the same fragment. For other uses, see Chemistry (disambiguation). ... A chemical bond is the PHYSICAL process responsible for the ATTRACTIVE INTERACTIONS between atoms and molecules, and that which confers stability to diatomic and polyatomic chemical compounds. ... In chemistry, a molecule is an aggregate of two or more atoms in a definite arrangement held together by chemical bonds [1] [2] [3] [4] [5]. Chemical substances are not infinitely divisible into smaller fractions of the same substance: a molecule is generally considered the smallest particle of a pure... A cation is an ion with positive charge. ... An anion is an ion with negative charge. ... e- redirects here. ...

The energy involved in this process is called heterolytic bond dissociation energy. Bond cleavage is also possible by a process called homolysis. In heterolysis additional energy is required to separate the ion pair. An ionising solvent helps reduce this energy. In chemistry, bond dissociation energy, D0, is one measure of the bond strength in a chemical bond. ... In chemistry, homolysis is chemical bond dissociation of a neutral molecule generating two free radicals. ...

In biology, heterolysis refers to necrosis induced by hydrolytic enzymes from surrounding (usually inflammatory) cells. Autolysis is necrosis of a cell by its own enzymes. This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

See also

• homolysis

In chemistry, homolysis is chemical bond dissociation of a neutral molecule generating two free radicals. ...

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