Table of Contents
What are Homolytic and Heterolytic Fission?
Homolytic fission is the process of breaking a molecule into two pieces by cleaving a covalent bond between two atoms with the same electron spin. This produces two radical molecules that are highly reactive.
Heterolytic fission is the process of breaking a molecule into two pieces by cleaving a covalent bond between two atoms with different electron spins. This produces two ions that are not as reactive as radicals.
Chemistry of the elements
The chemistry of the elements refers to the study of the elements and the compounds they form. The elements are the simplest substances that make up all matter. They are made up of atoms, which are the smallest particles of an element that have the properties of that element. The chemistry of the elements is constantly changing as new elements are discovered and new compounds are formed.
Organic Chemistry
Organic chemistry is the study of the structures and properties of molecules containing carbon. These molecules can be found in all forms of life and in many nonliving materials. Organic chemists use their knowledge of carbon chemistry to synthesize new molecules and to study the reactions of existing molecules.
Covalent Bonding
Covalent bonding is the process of sharing electrons between two atoms in order to form a molecule. The atoms share the electrons in order to fill their outer shells. This creates a strong bond between the atoms that is difficult to break.
Homolytic Fission
In homolytic fission, a single bond is cleaved between two atoms, and each atom becomes a free radical. This process is very rare in nature, but it can be induced in the laboratory by bombarding a molecule with radiation or with a powerful laser.
The free radicals produced by homolytic fission can react with other molecules to form new compounds. This process is known as polymerization.
Heterolytic Fission of H2
The heterolytic fission of H 2 is the process of breaking the hydrogen molecule into two hydrogen atoms. This process can be catalyzed by a variety of different enzymes, including hydrogenases and the enzyme hydrogenase-like protein (Hlp) from the hyperthermophilic archaeon Pyrococcus furiosus.
The heterolytic fission of H 2 can be summarized by the following equation:
2 H 2 → 2 H•
In this equation, the two hydrogen atoms are represented by the • (delta) symbol.
What is Homolytic Fission?
Homolytic fission is the process of breaking a molecule into two pieces by the transfer of a single electron from one atom to another.
What is Heterolytic Fission?
Heterolytic fission is the process of breaking a covalent bond by the transfer of one of the electrons to a different atom.
