A hydrolysis reaction breaks a chemical bond between two molecules and involves the use of a water molecule
A hydrolysis reaction breaks the bond between two joined molecules. It does this by consuming a molecule of water.
Formula
Molecule A–B + H₂O → Molecule A–OH + H–Molecule B
Real World
When you eat a Mars bar, the sucrose in it undergoes hydrolysis in your small intestine — the enzyme sucrase uses a water molecule to split it into glucose and fructose, which are then absorbed into the bloodstream.
Exam Focus
Specify that water is a reactant (consumed), not a product — confusing hydrolysis with condensation is the most common exam error.
Evaluation Scaffold
A four-step framework for high-quality evaluation. Use this for 'assess', 'evaluate', and 'to what extent' questions.
How well did you know this?