Hydrolysis

Hydrolysis Reaction and its working principle

What helps break down the material we eat as we digest it?

Water is the correct answer. Whether you’re having a breakfast muffin or a delicious filet mignon, you’ll need some form of drink to help you digest your meal. In fact, hydrolysis is a perfect illustration of your body’s early digestive function. The process of breaking down a molecule into two components using water is known as hydrolysis. The prefix ‘hydro-‘ denotes water, while the suffix ‘-lysis’ denotes the process of breaking down. As a result, the term ‘reaction with water’ comes to mind when you hear the word hydrolysis.

Both biology and chemistry benefit from hydrolysis. Biological applications include everything from breaking down sugar molecules in our bodies to helping ATP release stored energy. Consider the ATP molecule as an example. If we look closely at our body’s cells, we’ll notice a small protein called ATP, or Adenosine Triphosphate.

This tiny molecule, as it turns out, is a powerhouse in our bodies, storing energy produced from the food we eat. The connections between ATP molecules must be broken in order to release this stored energy. How do you think those ties will be severed? That’s correct! Hydrolysis, our ally, comes to the rescue.

So, what about chemistry applications of hydrolysis? In industry, hydrolysis is commonly used to break down substances into smaller fractions or fragments. A molecule known as organophosphate ester, for example, can be hydrolyzed or undergo a hydrolysis reaction. Insect killers and pesticide sprays are made easier with this hydrolysis.

General Hydrolysis Equation 

Below is a very basic depiction of the hydrolysis equation. As you can see, there is a long chain that must be separated into two halves. When water is added, a link between the atoms that make up the lengthy chain is broken. Let’s look at the many sorts of hydrolysis reactions now that we have a better understanding of this equation.

Defining the Hydrolysis Reaction,Acid vs Base

There are three types of hydrolysis reactions you’ll come across: salt, acid, and base hydrolysis. Although the technique of breaking down a molecule with water is the same for all types, the starting players, or reactants, differ. As we go over each kind, pay close attention to this.

A weak acid or base is dissolved in water in a salt hydrolysis process. In an aqueous solution, which is just another word for water, a weak acid (or base) is just a chemical that only partially dissociates or breaks apart into ions. An ion is a positively or negatively charged molecule or atom. The hydrolysis of table salt, or NaCl, is seen in the diagram below.

Salt Hydrolysis Reaction Diagram salt

The molecule NaCl breaks down into sodium ions (Na+) and chlorine ions when we drop salt into a water solution (Cl-). The role of water in breaking down NaCl into those ions distinguishes this as a hydrolysis reaction.

It’s also worth noting that hydrolysis processes can be carried out with organic molecules. However, there is one minor flaw in this response. Water and organic molecules often do not mix well. ‘Readily’ is the crucial word here. In other words, for this type of reaction to operate, it requires a small push or kickstart.

This is due to the fact that water is a polar molecule. Polarity refers to the separation of charge in a link or a molecule as a whole. The polarity of most organic molecules is not as high as that of water. Molecules that are less polar and those that are very polar do not mix well. It’s difficult to perform a hydrolysis reaction with both molecules, as you might expect. However, if we use a catalyst as a mediator, not only will these two molecules work together, but the process will also finish. A catalyst is a non-consumable molecule that accelerates the rate of a reaction.

This leads to the acid and base hydrolysis reactions, which are the other two types of reactions. Acids and bases can operate as catalysts, accelerating the completion of a hydrolysis reaction. Water acts as an acid in an acid hydrolysis reaction by giving a proton (H+) to the solution.

Conclusion 

The process by which your body breaks down food into its nutritional components is known as hydrolysis. Food enters your body as polymers that are far too massive for your cells to utilise, therefore they must be broken down into smaller monomers. Condensation is the process by which two molecules combine to form one larger molecule. Hydrolysis is the polar opposite of condensation. The bigger molecule ejects a water molecule as a result of this reaction.