Hydrolysis — Chemistry Definition | AllChemicals | AllChemicals

What is Hydrolysis?

Hydrolysis is a chemical reaction in which a molecule is cleaved by the addition of water. In the hydrolysis of esters, for example, water breaks the ester bond to give a carboxylic acid and an alcohol. Hydrolysis of salts can produce acidic or basic solutions depending on the nature of the parent acid and base. Enzymatic hydrolysis underpins digestion of proteins, carbohydrates, and fats.

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Term Hydrolysis

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What is Hydrolysis?

Hydrolysis is a chemical reaction in which a molecule is cleaved by the addition of water. In the hydrolysis of esters, for example, water breaks the ester bond to give a carboxylic acid and an alcohol. Hydrolysis of salts can produce acidic or basic solutions depending on the nature of the parent acid and base. Enzymatic hydrolysis underpins digestion of proteins, carbohydrates, and fats.

More "H" Terms

Haber Process N₂ + 3H₂ ⇌ 2NH₃ | ΔH = −92 kJ/mol Hafnium Hf Half Cell Half Life Half-Cell E = E° − (RT/nF)lnQ Half-Life A(t) = A₀e^(−λt); t½ = ln2/λ Half-Reaction Halide X⁻ (e.g., F⁻, Cl⁻, Br⁻, I⁻) Halogen F₂, Cl₂, Br₂, I₂, At; Group 17; ns²np⁵ valence configuration Halogenation C-X + Cl₂/Br₂ (hv or AlCl₃) → C-X(halogen); EAS or radical pathway Halogens Hard Acid Hard acid: small, highly charged, low polarisability (e.g., H⁺, Mg²⁺, Al³⁺)

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