What is the difference between homolytic and heterolytic cleavage?

Answer 1

In heterolytic cleavage, a covalent bond breaks in such a way that one fragment gets both of the shared electrons.

In homolytic cleavage, a covalent bond breaks in such a way that each fragment gets one of the shared electrons.

Heterolytic Cleavage

The word heterolytic comes from the Greek heteros, "different", and lysis, "loosening".

If both atoms are originally uncharged, the process generates a cation and an anion.

Heterolytic cleavage is most likely to occur in polar bonds. The electrons move toward the more electronegative atom.

An example is the heterolytic cleavage of the C-Br bond in t-butyl bromide.

Since Br is more electronegative than C, the electrons move to the Br. We get a t-butyl cation and a bromide anion.

Homolytic Cleavage

The word homolytic comes from the Greek homoios, "equal".

For example, the homolytic cleavage of a Br-Br bond is

Homolytic cleavage produces free radicals — atoms with unpaired valence electrons.

Here is a video on homolytic and heterolytic cleavage.

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Answer 2

Homolytic cleavage results in the formation of free radicals, with each atom retaining one electron from the bond being broken, leading to equal sharing of the electrons. Heterolytic cleavage results in the formation of ions, with one atom retaining both electrons from the bond being broken, leading to uneven sharing of the electrons.

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Answer from HIX Tutor

When evaluating a one-sided limit, you need to be careful when a quantity is approaching zero since its sign is different depending on which way it is approaching zero from. Let us look at some examples.

When evaluating a one-sided limit, you need to be careful when a quantity is approaching zero since its sign is different depending on which way it is approaching zero from. Let us look at some examples.

When evaluating a one-sided limit, you need to be careful when a quantity is approaching zero since its sign is different depending on which way it is approaching zero from. Let us look at some examples.

When evaluating a one-sided limit, you need to be careful when a quantity is approaching zero since its sign is different depending on which way it is approaching zero from. Let us look at some examples.

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