Homolytic v Heterolytic Cleavage
Key Questions
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Homolytic cleavage is the breaking of a covalent bond in such a way that each fragment gets one of the shared electrons.
The word homolytic comes from the Greek homoios, "equal", and lysis, "loosening".
For example, the homolytic cleavage of a Br-Br bond is
Homolytic cleavage produces free radicals — atoms with unpaired valence electrons.
Ernest Z.
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13
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Nov 24 2014
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Bond cleavage is the splitting of a chemical bond.
There are two types of bond cleavage: homolytic and heterolytic.
In homolytic cleavage, the two electrons in the bond are divided equally between the products.
In heterolytic cleavage, one atom gets both of the shared electrons.
Ernest Z.
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5
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Dec 11 2014