Question

Explain heterolytic fission.

Answer 1

In heterolytic fission, when a covalent bond is broken, the shared pair of electrons are taken by one of the atoms. In this type of fission, the two bonded electrons are not equally divided. The prefix 'hetero-', meaning 'different', indicates that the two atoms are now different because one has two electrons and the other doesn't. It would be sort of like if Clark and Hana also had two dogs living with them, but the couple breaks up, and Clark takes both dogs. Hana now has none.

This results in the formation of a negatively charged atom, because electrons are negatively charged. Whichever atom gets the electrons will then be a negatively charged atom (an anion). The other will be positively charged (cation). 

Answer 2

In heterolytic fission a convalent bond breaks in such a way that one of the bonded atoms gets both of the shared electron. In heterolytic fission a convalent bond breaks in such ways that each of the bonded atoms gets one of the shared electron