What does hydrolysis refer to?

Hydrolysis refers to a chemical process in which a compound is broken down into smaller units through the addition of water. This process typically involves the cleavage of covalent bonds within the molecule, resulting in the formation of two or more products. During hydrolysis, water molecules are used to help separate the bonds between atoms in larger molecules, such as carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids, facilitating their breakdown into monomers or simpler forms.

This mechanism is crucial in biological systems, particularly in digestion, where complex food molecules like starches and proteins are hydrolyzed into simpler sugars and amino acids for absorption and utilization by the body. The process underpins many metabolic pathways, making it foundational to understanding how organisms process nutrients.