Bond Fission
Bond Fission: Homolysis and Heterolysis
Bond Fission
A covalent bond is formed by sharing of electrons between two atoms. A single bond (σ bond) is made up of two electrons. A chemical reaction takes place when old bonds are broken and new ones are formed. Old bond can be broken by two ways-
Homolytic Bond Fission (Homolysis)
Heterolytic Bond Fission (Heterolysis)
Homolytic Bond Fission (Homolysis)
Breaking of bonds takes place in such a way that both the bonded atoms takes their shared electron. In this fission or breaking of bond, free radicals are generated. The suitable conditions for homolysis is electronegativity difference between two bonded atoms is very low, solvents should be non-polar, reactants should be in gaseous state, heat, UV, peroxide, free radical initiator etc.
Heterolytic Bond Fission (Heterolysis)
Breaking of bonds takes place in such a way that both the bonded electrons taken by more electronegative bonded atom. In this fission or breaking of bond, ions (i.e. cations and anions) are generated. The suitable conditions for heterolysis is electronegativity difference between two bonded atoms is high, solvents should be polar, heat etc.
Reaction Intermediates