What is "heterolysis"

n. 1 (context chemistry English) In organic chemistry, the splitting of a molecule to form a pair of oppositely charged ions 2 (context biology English) The disruption of blood cells by a heterolysin, or by enzymes from another species

In chemistry, heterolysis or heterolytic fission (from Greek ἕτερος, heteros, "different," and λύσις, lusis, "loosening") involves cleavage of a chemical bond in a process where both of the electrons involved in the original bond remain with only one of the fragment species. During heterolytic bond cleavage in a neutral molecule, a cation and an anion will be generated. Typically, the more electronegative fragment will retain the pair of electrons.

The energy involved in this process is called heterolytic bond dissociation energy. Bond cleavage is also possible by a process called homolysis. In the gas-phase, heterolysis of a neutral molecule will require additional energy to separate the ion contact pair.

Heterolysis may refer to:

• Heterolysis (biology), the apoptosis induced by hydrolytic enzymes from surrounding cells
• Heterolysis (chemistry), a chemical bond cleavage of a neutral molecule generating a cation and an anion

In biology, heterolysis refers to apoptosis induced by hydrolytic enzymes from surrounding (usually inflammatory) cells. Autolysis is apoptosis of a cell by its own enzymes.