Question

How many ways a bond between two atoms can cleave?

Answer 1

The bond between two atoms can be cleaved by only one way.

Heterolytic cleavage occurs if both the atoms are different. The atoms which are less electronegative gets a positive charge. Whereas the atom which is more electronegative gets a negative charge. In this one atom gets both pairs of a shared electron.


 The second situation is that in which both the atoms are same and this is known as homolytic cleavage which gives rise to radicals. In this, each atom gets one pair of the shared electron by breaking of the covalent bond.

Hope this will help you.

Answer 2

Answer: Two ways

Explanation: A bond is formed by two electrons.

1) Homolytic cleavage: A cleavage in which the electrons are equally share between the two atoms and leads to generation of free radicals.

$A-B\rightarrow A^. + B^.$

2) Heterolytic cleavage: A cleavage in which the electrons are unequally share between the two atoms and leads to generation of ions. The more electronegative atom withdraws both electrons and result into formation of anion and the less electronegative element forms a cation.

$A-B\rightarrow A^+ + B^-$