Hydrolysis (Noun)
Meaning
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.
Classification
Nouns denoting natural processes.
Examples
- The enzyme catalyzed the hydrolysis of the peptide bond, breaking the protein into smaller fragments.
- In the laboratory, the chemist induced hydrolysis of the ester to produce the corresponding carboxylic acid and alcohol.
- The process of hydrolysis is crucial in the digestion of food, as it allows enzymes to break down complex molecules into simpler nutrients.
- The hydrolysis of ATP is a key step in the energy production of cells, involving the release of energy as the phosphate bond is broken.
- The industrial process of hydrolysis is used to produce a variety of chemicals, including alcohols and amines from corresponding esters and amides.