A hydrolysis reaction results in which two of the following?
A Water is split apart.
B Two molecules are split apart.
C Water is formed.
D Two molecules are combined.
The correct answer and explanation is :
Correct Answers: A. Water is split apart.
B. Two molecules are split apart.
A hydrolysis reaction is a type of chemical reaction that involves the breaking of a bond in a molecule using water. The term “hydrolysis” comes from the Greek words “hydro,” meaning water, and “lysis,” meaning to break. Therefore, hydrolysis literally means “to break with water.”
Explanation:
In a hydrolysis reaction, a larger molecule (often a polymer) is broken down into two smaller molecules (monomers) by the addition of a water molecule. This reaction is catalyzed by specific enzymes and is common in many biological processes, such as digestion.
For example:
When a disaccharide (like sucrose) is broken down into glucose and fructose, water is used in the process.
Sucrose + H₂O → Glucose + Fructose
This process involves two key components:
- A. Water is split apart: In hydrolysis, a molecule of water (H₂O) is used to break a chemical bond. The water molecule is split into a hydrogen ion (H⁺) and a hydroxyl ion (OH⁻). One part attaches to one product, and the other part attaches to the second product. So, water is consumed and split apart during the reaction.
- B. Two molecules are split apart: The original molecule being broken down (often a macromolecule like a protein, carbohydrate, or nucleic acid) is cleaved into two smaller parts. This is the core purpose of hydrolysis: to break large molecules into usable smaller ones.
In contrast:
- C. Water is formed – This occurs in a dehydration synthesis reaction, which is the opposite of hydrolysis.
- D. Two molecules are combined – Also characteristic of dehydration synthesis, not hydrolysis.
Summary:
Hydrolysis breaks down large molecules into smaller ones by splitting water and cleaving chemical bonds, making A and B the correct choices.