Homolysis (chemistry)

In chemistry, homolysis (from Greek ὅμοιος, homoios, "equal," and λύσις, lusis, "loosening") or homolytic fission is chemical bond dissociation of a molecule by a process where each of the fragments retains one of the originally-bonded electrons. During homolytic fission of a neutral molecule with an even number of electrons, two free radicals will be generated.[1] That is, the two electrons involved in the original bond are distributed between the two fragment species.

Such reactions can be induced by irradiation in the UV region, diffused sunlight, or peroxide, because energy must be supplied to cause bonds to cleave homolytically. High temperatures in the absence of oxygen (pyrolysis) can also induce homolytic elimination of carbon compounds.[2]

The energy involved in this process is called bond dissociation energy. Bond cleavage is also possible by a process called heterolysis.

References

  1. ↑ IUPAC, Compendium of Chemical Terminology, 2nd ed. (the "Gold Book") (1997). Online corrected version:  (2006–) "homolysis (homolytic)".
  2. ↑ I. Pastorova, "Cellulose Char Structure: a Combined Analytical Py-GC-MS, FTIR, and NMR Study", Carbohydrate Research, 262 (1994) 27-47.

See also