Hydrolyze Meaning: Definition and Examples

Science

• Hydrolysis is a key process in digestion, where large food molecules are broken down into smaller, usable components.
• It's involved in the formation of many biological compounds, like amino acids and fatty acids, from larger molecules.
• Certain chemical bonds can only be broken in water's presence, making this process vital in both organic and inorganic chemistry.

Culinary Arts

• In cooking, hydrolysis is responsible for transforming substances like starch into sugars when boiled with water.
• Fermentation in food production, like making yogurt, often involves hydrolyzing lactose into simpler sugars.
• The flavor of certain dishes can change when hydrolysis occurs, affecting texture and taste.

Environmental Science

• Hydrolysis plays a significant role in the environment by breaking down pollutants in water bodies.
• It helps in the natural recycling of nutrients in ecosystems, leading to a healthier environment.
• Some water treatments utilize hydrolysis to purify and break down harmful chemicals.

Medicine

• In pharmacology, hydrolysis can affect how medications are absorbed and processed in the body.
• Certain drugs are designed to be activated through hydrolysis, which triggers their intended effects.
• Hydrolytic enzymes, known as hydrolases, help facilitate these reactions in living organisms.

Main points about word origin

• The word comes from Greek roots, where 'hydro' means water and 'lyze' means to break apart.
• It first appeared in scientific texts around the early 19th century as chemists explored chemical reactions involving water.

The term 'hydrolyze' is derived from the combination of the Greek word 'hydro', meaning 'water', and the Greek word 'lysis', which means 'a loosening' or 'to break apart'. The concept has been used since the early 19th century in the field of chemistry to describe a reaction involving water that results in the decomposition of a substance. The first recorded use of the term hydrolyze can be traced back to scientific literature that began exploring chemical reactions in an aqueous environment. Since then, the understanding and application of hydrolysis have expanded, playing a critical role in various scientific domains, including biochemistry, environmental chemistry, and food science.

This word's position of #30,173 indicates it's among the more rare English words. While understanding it broadens your vocabulary, focus on more common words first.

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