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:
The correct answers are:
✅ Water is split apart.
✅ Two molecules are split apart.
Explanation:
A hydrolysis reaction is a chemical process in which a molecule is broken down into two smaller molecules with the addition of water. The term “hydrolysis” comes from Greek: hydro (water) and lysis (to break apart). It literally means “to break with water.”
What Happens During Hydrolysis?
In a hydrolysis reaction:
- A water molecule (H₂O) is split into a hydrogen ion (H⁺) and a hydroxide ion (OH⁻).
- These ions are then added to the components of the molecule being broken apart.
- For example, in the hydrolysis of a disaccharide (like sucrose), the bond between the two sugar molecules is broken:
- One sugar receives the OH⁻, and the other receives the H⁺ from the water.
- This results in two separate monosaccharides.
Why It’s Important:
Hydrolysis reactions are crucial in biological systems, especially in digestion:
- Proteins are broken into amino acids.
- Carbohydrates are broken into simple sugars.
- Fats are broken into glycerol and fatty acids.
All of these processes involve hydrolysis and require enzymes to speed up the reactions.
Clarifying the Incorrect Choices:
❌ Water is formed – This occurs in dehydration synthesis (the opposite of hydrolysis), where two molecules combine and release water.
❌ Two molecules are combined – This also refers to dehydration synthesis, not hydrolysis. Hydrolysis splits molecules.
Summary:
Hydrolysis reactions are essential for breaking down complex molecules in living organisms. They involve:
- Splitting a water molecule, and
- Breaking apart a larger molecule into two smaller ones.
Hence, the correct choices are:
✅ Water is split apart and ✅ Two molecules are split apart.