Hüdrolüüsitud

Hüdrolüüsitud is a term used in chemistry to describe a process where a substance is broken down by reaction with water. The word "hydrolysis" itself comes from the Greek words "hydro" meaning water and "lysis" meaning to break or loosen. In this chemical reaction, a water molecule is added to the substance, causing it to split into two or more smaller molecules. This process is fundamental to many biological and industrial applications.

In biological systems, hydrolysis plays a crucial role in digestion. For example, carbohydrates are broken down into simpler sugars, proteins into amino acids, and fats into fatty acids and glycerol through hydrolysis. Enzymes act as catalysts to speed up these reactions in the body. In industrial chemistry, hydrolysis is used in the production of various chemicals, such as alcohols from esters or acids and bases from salts. For instance, the saponification of fats to produce soap is a type of hydrolysis. The products of hydrolysis are often more reactive or soluble than the original substance, making them useful for further processing or absorption. The specific products of a hydrolysis reaction depend entirely on the chemical structure of the substance being hydrolyzed.