A chemical reaction in which water is used to break down a compound; this is achieved by breaking a covalent bond in the compound by inserting a water molecule across the bond. The opposite of this is a dehydration-condensation reaction.


From the BioTech Dictionary at http://biotech.icmb.utexas.edu/. For further information see the BioTech homenode.

Hy*drol"y*sis (?), n. [Hydro-, 1 + -lysis.] (Chem.)

A chemical process involving the addition of the elements of water.

 

© Webster 1913

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