What is hydrolysis reaction in chemistry with examples?

The hydrolysis reaction is an important reaction in chemistry. Many organic and inorganic compounds participate in hydrolysis reactions.

This is a very important reaction, especially in the case of organic compounds.

Hydrolysis is a chemical reaction in which a molecule of water dissociates one or more chemical bonds.

Hydrolysis reactions can be called reversals of the condensation process where two molecules combine together into a larger one and emit a water molecule.

The term hydrolysis is widely used for substitution, elimination and salvation reactions where water is a nucleophile.

The chemical process by which various organic and inorganic compounds are hydrolyzed by water to form compounds with new properties is called hydrolysis reaction.

Esters of organic and inorganic acids [carboxylates, sulfates, sulfites, phosphates, halides, etc.], amides [proteins, peptides, urea, ureides, etc], ether including saccharides, thiothers, and a few other functional groups have a tendency to undergo hydrolysis.

When a carbohydrate is broken down by hydrolysis into its constituent sugar molecules (e.g. sucrose is broken down into glucose and fructose), it is recognized as discarded.

What Is Hydrolysis Reaction In Organic Chemistry With Examples?

Most of the hydrolysis reactions involve organic chemistry. For example, hydrolysis of esters, hydrolysis of ethers, hydrolysis of carbohydrate compounds, hydrolysis of amides etc. are notable.

In addition to these there are some other organic compounds that take part in the hydrolysis reaction, such as, protein, acid chloride, cyanide, isocyanide, alkyl halide oil, organic and inorganic salt, xenon compounds etc.

Besides, acetic hydride, acid amide, chloroform etc compounds also undergo hydrolysis reaction. The ease of hydrolysis depends on different conditions such as structure, temperature, solvent and catalyst.

Common catalysts are acids and alkalis. Thus hydrolysis reactions are of two types, such as acid catalysed and base catalysed. Some hydrolysis reactions of various organic compounds in acidic and basic medium are show below.

Hydrolysis reactions in acidic medium

Organic and inorganic chemical reactions that occur in the presence of acid are called acid catalysed hydrolysis reactions.

For example, hydrolysis of organic ester, alkyl isocyanide, acyl halide, chloroform, acetic anhydride, salt etc compounds undergo hydrolysis in presence of sulfuric or hydrochloric acid.

Hydrolysis reaction in alkaline medium

Organic and inorganic chemical reactions that occur in the presence of alkalis are called base catalysed hydrolysis reactions.

For example, hydrolysis of organic alkyl cyanide, amide, ester, chloroform etc compounds undergo hydrolysis in presence of NaOH base.

Hydrolysis reaction of inorganic compounds

Many inorganic compounds also take part in hydrolysis, such as inorganic salts, esters etc. Hydrolysis reactions of some inorganic compounds are given below.

What is hydrolysis of organic ester with example?

When the ester is refluxed with an acid or alkali solution, it is hydrolyzed and produces carboxylic acids. On hydrolysis of esters in alkaline solutions produces metallic salts of carboxylic acids.

Therefore, if the mixture produced at the end of the reaction is hydrolyzed by mild acid, carboxylic acid is found in the mixed solution. Alkaline hydrolysis of esters with the help of alkali is called saponification.

What is hydrolysis of sucrose with example?

In the laboratory, an alcoholic solution of sucrose or cane-sugar is hydrolysed with dilute HCl at a temperature of 50–60 ᵒC to produce a mixture of glucose and frutose in equal-molecular proportions.

The hydrolysis of sucrose is called inversion of cane sugar. The glucose is then precipitated into crystals when the reactive mixture is cooled.But frutose remains in the solution.

This is because glucose is much less soluble than frutose in alcoholic solutions.
In the process of filtration, crystalline glucose is separated.

Uses or applications of hydrolysis reaction in chemistry

Hydrolysis reaction is used in the synthesis of many organic compounds. For example, hydrolysis process is used to prepare polypeptide, peptide and finally amino acids from proteins.

Again, carboxylic acid is obtained from ester by the use of acid and base catalysed hydrolysis reaction.

Besides, organic primary amine, secondary amine etc compounds are also synthesis through the hydrolysis reaction.

• What is hydrolysis reaction in chemistry with examples?
• What is hydrolysis of organic ester with example?
• What is hydrolysis of sucrose with example?
• Uses or applications of hydrolysis in chemistry
• What is hydrolysis constant?
• What is hydrolysis reaction in organic chemistry with examples?
• What is hydrolysis meaning in chemistry with examples?