Hydrolysis (noun)

A chemical reaction in which a compound is broken down by the addition of water molecules.

Origin:

From greek hudrós "water" + lysis "loosening".

Examples:

1. Hydrolysis is a common method for breaking down complex molecules into simpler ones.
2. The hydrolysis of a protein occurs when water is added to the molecule and splits it into smaller peptides.
3. The hydrolysis of a carbohydrate results in the separation of the carbohydrate into its component sugars.
4. Hydrolysis is an important process in metabolism.
5. Hydrolysis is a type of chemical reaction that involves the breaking of a chemical bond using water as a reactant.