Homolysis

In chemistry, homolysis or homolytic fission is chemical bond dissociation of a neutral molecule generating two free radicals. That is, two electrons that are involved in the bond are distributed one by one to the two species.

A−B → A• + B•

Such reactions can be induced by irradiation in the UV region.

The energy involved in this process is called bond dissociation energy. Bond cleavage is also possible by a process called heterolysis.

In biology homolysis means that dividing cell gives two equal-size daughter cells. In general it means breakdown (lysis part) to equal pieces (homo = same)