Energy is released as a result of which of the following chemical reactions? a. condensation b. dehydration synthesis c. hydrolysis d. dissolution
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
The correct answer is c. hydrolysis.
Explanation:
In chemistry, hydrolysis is a reaction in which a compound reacts with water, breaking bonds and releasing energy. This type of reaction is commonly seen in the breakdown of complex molecules like polymers into simpler monomers, such as the digestion of food molecules.
When a molecule undergoes hydrolysis, a water molecule is added to the compound, causing the bond between two atoms or groups to break. This breaking of bonds often releases energy, as the system transitions from a higher-energy state to a lower-energy state.
For example, when complex carbohydrates like starch or glycogen are broken down into their simpler sugar units, energy is released in the form of ATP (adenosine triphosphate) in biological systems. The breakdown of ATP itself, which is a high-energy molecule, is a form of hydrolysis that releases energy to power cellular processes.
Other reactions:
- a. Condensation: This is the opposite of hydrolysis. In condensation reactions, two molecules combine to form a larger molecule, with the release of a smaller molecule, often water. These reactions typically consume energy rather than release it.
- b. Dehydration synthesis: This is another form of condensation. It involves the removal of water molecules when two molecules combine to form a larger molecule. Like condensation, it usually requires energy input.
- d. Dissolution: This is the process in which a solute dissolves in a solvent. While energy may be involved in the form of heat exchange (depending on the solute and solvent), dissolution itself typically does not release energy in the same way that hydrolysis does.
Thus, hydrolysis is the reaction that primarily releases energy.
