heterolysis

/ˌhɛdəˈrɑləsɪs/
noun
  1. In chemistry, the breaking of a chemical bond where both electrons from the bond go to one atom, creating ions.
    • Heterolysis of the carbon-chlorine bond produces a carbocation and a chloride ion.
    • Students learned to distinguish heterolysis from homolysis in organic chemistry class.
    • The reaction proceeds through heterolysis, forming positive and negative fragments.
  2. In biology, the breakdown of cells or tissues by an external agent, such as an enzyme from another organism.
    • Heterolysis plays a role in how some parasites digest host tissues.
    • Heterolysis of the bacterial cell wall was caused by enzymes from the host's immune system.
    • The study examined heterolysis in plant cells attacked by fungal pathogens.
Antonyms
What does "heterolysis" mean? | whatsthatwordmean | whatsthatwordmean