A hydrolysis reaction results in which two of the following?
Water is split apart.
Two molecules are split apart.
Water is formed.
Two molecules are combined.
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
Correct Answer:
- Water is split apart.
- Two molecules are split apart.
Explanation
A hydrolysis reaction is a type of chemical reaction in which a molecule is broken apart (lysed) by the addition of water (hydro-). The term “hydrolysis” comes from Greek roots: hydro (water) and lysis (to break apart). This process plays a crucial role in both biological and chemical systems.
In a hydrolysis reaction, a water molecule is split into a hydrogen ion (H⁺) and a hydroxide ion (OH⁻). These ions then participate in breaking a chemical bond within a larger molecule. For instance, in the hydrolysis of a disaccharide like sucrose, water breaks the glycosidic bond between the glucose and fructose units, resulting in two monosaccharides.
So, the first correct statement—“Water is split apart”—is true because the water molecule is cleaved during the reaction to contribute its components to the breaking of another molecule.
The second correct statement—“Two molecules are split apart”—can also be considered accurate depending on interpretation. In many hydrolysis reactions, a larger molecule is split into two smaller ones. For example, in the digestion of proteins, hydrolysis breaks peptide bonds to yield individual amino acids.
The other two options—“Water is formed” and “Two molecules are combined”—describe a different type of reaction: a condensation or dehydration synthesis reaction. In that case, two molecules combine to form a larger one, and a water molecule is produced as a byproduct, which is the opposite of hydrolysis.
In summary, hydrolysis involves breaking bonds by adding water, resulting in the splitting of a molecule and the consumption (not formation) of water. This process is essential in many biological functions, such as digestion and cellular metabolism.
