1. The breaking of a chemical bond in which both electrons go to one of the two atoms, resulting in the formation of a cation and an anion.
Usage: chemistry; also called heterolytic cleavage or heterolytic fission

Examples

• Heterolysis of a C-Cl bond produces a carbocation and a chloride ion.
• In heterolysis, the electron pair from the bond is retained by the more electronegative atom.
• The reaction mechanism involves heterolysis rather than homolysis of the carbon-halogen bond.
• Heterolysis is common in polar solvents where ionic intermediates are stabilized.
• The SN1 mechanism proceeds through heterolysis of the C-X bond to form a carbocation intermediate.