How does a hydrolysis reaction separate a polymer into its monomers?

Question

Brooklyn Barber · Accepted Answer

By re-introducing water, breaking the covalent bond, and re-attaching the #"H"# and #"OH"# to the monomers that made up the polymer.

This works only for condensation polymers, in which molecules join together — losing small molecules like water as by-products.

and #"OH"# that broke off in the bonding have to be reattached to their respective monomers.

We can view it as if the covalent bond is broken between the atoms holding the monomers to each other, and then a water molecule is introduced.

The water molecule splits into an #"H"# and an #"OH"#, and these attach to their respective monomers.

Hydrolysis is an energy releasing process. Living organisms harvest energy through hydrolysis of chemical bonds.

Maya Allen · Answer

undefined Hydrolysis breaks the covalent bonds between monomers in a polymer by adding water molecules. Water molecules are split, and the resulting hydroxyl and hydrogen ions attach to the monomers, causing the bond to break and yielding individual monomers.