heterolysis: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1/C2Technical/Scientific
Quick answer
What does “heterolysis” mean?
The breaking of a chemical bond where one fragment retains both bonding electrons, resulting in oppositely charged ions.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The breaking of a chemical bond where one fragment retains both bonding electrons, resulting in oppositely charged ions.
1) In chemistry: A bond fission where the bond pair of electrons is taken by one of the fragments. 2) In biology/cell biology: Cell death or dissolution caused by external agents or enzymes from other cells.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or spelling. Pronunciation differs slightly.
Connotations
Strictly technical, neutral. No regional connotative differences.
Frequency
Extremely rare outside specialised scientific literature.
Grammar
How to Use “heterolysis” in a Sentence
The heterolysis of [chemical bond][Bond] undergoes heterolysisHeterolysis occursVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “heterolysis” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The carbon-halogen bond heterolysed under the acidic conditions.
American English
- The substrate heterolyzed to form a carbocation and a halide ion.
adverb
British English
- The bond cleaved heterolytically.
- The reaction proceeded heterolytically.
American English
- The cleavage occurred heterolytically.
adjective
British English
- The heterolytic mechanism was confirmed by isotopic labelling.
American English
- A heterolytic process yields ionic intermediates.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not applicable.
Academic
Used in advanced chemistry and biochemistry texts and research papers discussing reaction mechanisms or cell biology.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
Core term in organic chemistry for describing reaction pathways; also used in cell biology literature.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “heterolysis”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “heterolysis”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “heterolysis”
- Pronouncing it as 'hetero-lysis' with a full long 'o'.
- Confusing it with 'hydrolysis'.
- Using it in non-scientific contexts.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Hydrolysis specifically involves breaking a bond with water ('hydro-'). Heterolysis is a general term for bond cleavage where electrons are distributed unevenly.
Ions—specifically, a cation and an anion.
It is disfavoured because the resulting ions are not stabilized. Polar solvents promote heterolysis.
Conceptually, yes—both involve a 'splitting apart'. But in biology, it refers to the disintegration of a cell by external agents, not electron distribution.
The breaking of a chemical bond where one fragment retains both bonding electrons, resulting in oppositely charged ions.
Heterolysis is usually technical/scientific in register.
Heterolysis: in British English it is pronounced /ˌhɛtəˈrɒlɪsɪs/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌhɛtəˈrɑːlɪsɪs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: HETERO = different/divided + LYSIS = splitting. In chemistry, electrons are divided unequally (one ion gets both).
Conceptual Metaphor
A divorce where one partner gets the entire shared savings, leaving the other bankrupt (resulting in charged entities).
Practice
Quiz
In which field is the term 'heterolysis' LEAST likely to be used?