What is the process of hydrolysis?

Question

Ruby Allen · Accepted Answer

Hydrolysis is when you break up a molecule by adding water.

Hydrolysis is literally "water-cutting," derived from the Greek word hydros, which means "water," and lysis, which means "cut or unbind." An example of hydrolysis is with proteins. Proteins are formed with condensation reactions between amino acids - they lose #H_2O# and the bodies of the acids join, forming a long chain called a polypeptide. If you were to add back in #H_2O# and use an enzyme to help the reaction, the polypeptide would break back down into individual amino acids and some short peptide chains. Sugars can also be hydrolyzed; water can be used to break down the glycosidic bonds that form during condensation reactions, converting long, starch-like molecules into single glucose molecules or other sugar monomers. But in its most basic form, hydrolysis is the process of using water to split long molecules into shorter ones.

Ellie Adams · Answer

undefined Hydrolysis is a chemical reaction in which a compound reacts with water, resulting in the breaking of chemical bonds within the compound and the formation of two or more new compounds. This process involves the addition of a water molecule to the compound, which causes it to split into two or more molecules. Hydrolysis reactions are common in biological systems and are essential for processes such as digestion, where large molecules such as carbohydrates, proteins, and fats are broken down into smaller molecules that can be absorbed and utilized by the body.