adjective
- relating to or involving the breaking of a chemical bond in which both electrons go to one of the two atoms, forming a cation and an anion
Usage: chemistry; technical
Examples
- Heterolytic cleavage of the C-Cl bond produces a carbocation intermediate.
- In heterolytic bond breaking, the electron pair is retained by the more electronegative atom.
- The reaction proceeds through a heterolytic mechanism rather than a free radical pathway.
- Heterolytic dissociation is common in polar solvents.
- The heterolytic fission of the bond generates charged species.