hydrolysis

  1. Noun.  (chemistry) A chemical process of decomposition involving the splitting of a bond and the addition of the hydrogen cation and the hydroxide anion of water.
  2. Noun.  (biochemistry) The degradation of certain biopolymers (proteins, complex sugars) by the chemical process that results in smaller polymers or monomers (such as amino acids or monosaccharides).

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This entry was last updated on RefTopia from its source on 3/20/2012.