Heterolysis
Encyclopedia
In chemistry
, heterolysis or heterolytic fission (from Greek ἕτερος, heteros, "different," and λύσις, lusis, "loosening") is chemical bond
cleavage of a neutral molecule
generating a cation and an anion. In this process the two electron
s that make up the bond are assigned to the same fragment. The more electronegative
fragment receives both electrons.
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 biology
, heterolysis refers to apoptosis induced by hydrolytic enzymes from surrounding (usually inflammatory) cells. Autolysis is apoptosis of a cell by its own enzymes.
Chemistry
Chemistry is the science of matter, especially its chemical reactions, but also its composition, structure and properties. Chemistry is concerned with atoms and their interactions with other atoms, and particularly with the properties of chemical bonds....
, heterolysis or heterolytic fission (from Greek ἕτερος, heteros, "different," and λύσις, lusis, "loosening") is chemical bond
Chemical bond
A chemical bond is an attraction between atoms that allows the formation of chemical substances that contain two or more atoms. The bond is caused by the electromagnetic force attraction between opposite charges, either between electrons and nuclei, or as the result of a dipole attraction...
cleavage of a neutral molecule
Molecule
A molecule is an electrically neutral group of at least two atoms held together by covalent chemical bonds. Molecules are distinguished from ions by their electrical charge...
generating a cation and an anion. In this process the two electron
Electron
The electron is a subatomic particle with a negative elementary electric charge. It has no known components or substructure; in other words, it is generally thought to be an elementary particle. An electron has a mass that is approximately 1/1836 that of the proton...
s that make up the bond are assigned to the same fragment. The more electronegative
Electronegativity
Electronegativity, symbol χ , is a chemical property that describes the tendency of an atom or a functional group to attract electrons towards itself. An atom's electronegativity is affected by both its atomic number and the distance that its valence electrons reside from the charged nucleus...
fragment receives both electrons.
The energy involved in this process is called heterolytic bond dissociation energy. Bond cleavage is also possible by a process called homolysis
Homolysis
In general it means breakdown to equal pieces There are separate meanings for the word in chemistry and biology.-Homolysis in chemistry:...
. In heterolysis additional energy is required to separate the ion pair. An ionising solvent helps reduce this energy.
In biology
Biology
Biology is a natural science concerned with the study of life and living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, origin, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy. Biology is a vast subject containing many subdivisions, topics, and disciplines...
, heterolysis refers to apoptosis induced by hydrolytic enzymes from surrounding (usually inflammatory) cells. Autolysis is apoptosis of a cell by its own enzymes.