Definition

1. Noun:
   • A chemical decomposition reaction involving water: Hydrolysis is a chemical process where a compound reacts with water, resulting in the cleavage of one or more chemical bonds and the incorporation of the hydrogen ion (H⁺) and hydroxide ion (OH⁻) from the water molecule into the resulting products.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The hydrolysis of sucrose yields glucose and fructose.
  • In digestion, enzymes catalyze the hydrolysis of proteins into amino acids.
  • The stability of the ester in water depends on its rate of hydrolysis.

Advanced Usage

• Acid-catalyzed hydrolysis: A hydrolysis reaction that is accelerated by the presence of an acid.
  • Acid-catalyzed hydrolysis is commonly used to break down polysaccharides.
• Base-catalyzed hydrolysis (saponification): A hydrolysis reaction, specifically of esters, that is accelerated by a base.
  • The base-catalyzed hydrolysis of fats produces soap and glycerol.
• Enzymatic hydrolysis: A hydrolysis reaction facilitated by a specific enzyme.
  • Enzymatic hydrolysis is crucial for metabolic processes in living organisms.

Variants and Related Words

• Hydrolyze (verb): To undergo or cause to undergo hydrolysis.
  • The compound will hydrolyze in aqueous solution.
• Hydrolytic (adjective): Relating to or involving hydrolysis.
  • The hydrolytic enzyme broke down the polymer.
• Hydrolysate (noun): A product resulting from hydrolysis.
  • The protein hydrolysate is used in nutritional supplements.

Synonyms

• Decomposition by water: A descriptive synonym emphasizing the role of water in breaking the compound apart.
• Solvolysis (with water): A broader chemical term for a reaction with a solvent, where hydrolysis is the specific case with water as the solvent.

Related Phrases and Concepts

• Reverse of condensation: Hydrolysis is often described as the chemical reverse of a condensation reaction, where two molecules combine with the loss of a water molecule.
• Salt hydrolysis: The reaction of an ion from a dissolved salt with water to produce an acidic or basic solution.
  • The hydrolysis of ammonium chloride makes the solution acidic.

Noun

1. a chemical reaction in which water reacts with a compound to produce other compounds; involves the splitting of a bond and the addition of the hydrogen cation and the hydroxide anion from the water