Final answer:
Homolytic bond dissociation results in the formation of two radicals and requires less energy, while heterolytic bond dissociation forms an anion and a cation, requiring more energy due to electrostatic considerations. This is why the dissociation energy of H-H bonds is lower for homolytic (104 kJ/mol) than for heterolytic processes (401 kJ/mol).
Step-by-step explanation:
Homolytic and heterolytic bond dissociation are two different processes for the breaking of chemical bonds. In homolytic bond dissociation, each atom in the bond takes one electron from the shared pair, leading to the formation of two radicals. This requires less energy because it results in species that have no charge and thus avoids the electrostatic cost of creating charged species.
In contrast, heterolytic bond dissociation involves one atom taking both electrons from the bond, leading to the formation of a cation and an anion. This requires more energy, such as in the case of H-H bond where heterolytic dissociation energy is significantly higher (401 kJ/mol) than homolytic dissociation energy (104 kJ/mol). The higher energy is needed due to the creation of two oppositely charged ions, which requires overcoming the attraction between them.
The difference in dissociation energy between homolytic and heterolytic processes is due to the nature of the products. Radical species formed during homolytic cleavage are electrically neutral, while ionic species formed during heterolytic cleavage carry a full positive or negative charge, making the latter process more energy-intensive.