What distinguishes homolytic cleavage from heterolytic cleavage?

Homolytic cleavage is characterized by the breaking of a chemical bond in such a way that each fragment receives one of the shared electrons, resulting in the formation of two free radicals. This process involves equal sharing of the electrons between the two atoms, which is crucial for the generation of these highly reactive species. On the other hand, heterolytic cleavage involves one atom taking both of the electrons from the bond, leading to the creation of a cation and an anion.

This distinction in the way electrons are shared is fundamental to understanding the different types of species produced in these two cleavage processes. The formation of free radicals during homolytic cleavage can lead to various reactions in organic chemistry, such as those involved in polymerization and combustion. Thus, the correct answer highlights the essential difference between these two types of bond-breaking processes by focusing on how the electrons are distributed between the resulting species.