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Dictionary » H » Hydrolysis

Hydrolysis

Definition

noun

(chemistry)

(1) A chemical reaction in which the interaction of a compound with water results in the decomposition of that compound.

(2) A chemical reaction wherein a water molecule (HOH) and a reactant exchange functional groups resulting in two end products, one containing the hydrogen cation (H) and the other the hydroxyl anion (OH). An example is the chemical reaction of water with the ions of salt resulting in the formation of an acid and a base, one or both of which is only slightly dissociated.

(3) The process of splitting a compound into fragments with the addition of water; a kind of reaction that is used to break down polymers into simpler units, e.g. starch into glucose.


Supplement

Word origin: Gk. hydor = water + lyein = to loosen, dissolve.
Related forms: hydrolytic (adjective), hydrolyze (verb).
See also: water.


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Needing help identifying uknowns for micro lab

... pos negative PR glucose pos pos Litmus alkaline didn't test FTM facultative aerobic Catalase negative negative MR pos pos VP pos Starch negative hydrolysis Amylase negative pos TSI yby ry Gas pos negative H2S pos negative glucose fermented fermented urea negative negative EMB agar citrate pos ...

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by avon7774
Wed Jul 29, 2009 10:35 pm
 
Forum: Microbiology
Topic: Needing help identifying uknowns for micro lab
Replies: 1
Views: 99

unknown bacteria

... have + results for acid and gas with Glucose, Sucrose, Lactose, and maltose. I have a + for citrate utilization and catalase. Negative on gelatin hydrolysis, cysteine digestion, tryptophan digestion, and urea. I think I may have it narrowed down but I am hitting some walls. Any ideas? John

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by 5646matthews
Thu Jul 16, 2009 10:38 pm
 
Forum: Microbiology
Topic: unknown bacteria
Replies: 1
Views: 147

help identify unknow species

... oxidase(+) catalase(-) H2S(-) reduction of nitrate and nitrite(-) glucose fermentation (-) lactose (-) sucrose(-) mannitol(-) MR(-) VP(-) starch hydrolysis (-) casein hydrolysis (-) indole (-) citrate (+) nitrate (+) urease (-) Any help is greatly appreciated?

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by 198839
Sat Jul 11, 2009 12:26 am
 
Forum: Microbiology
Topic: help identify unknow species
Replies: 2
Views: 154

Re: ATP hydrolysis releases energy, but what kind of energy?

You're right, I was also a bit sceptical when I saw the rest of his site :) The first link may have some answers, but it's going to take me some time to read it

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by Lucanus cervus
Fri May 22, 2009 10:59 am
 
Forum: Molecular Biology
Topic: ATP hydrolysis releases energy, but what kind of energy?
Replies: 5
Views: 1070

Re: ATP hydrolysis releases energy, but what kind of energy?

Thanks for the answer! I did some further research and it seems to me it is not fully discovered yet how ATP fuels biochemical processes at the atom level (from what I have found that is, I could be mistaken). Two documents I've found that may provide an answer (haven't read them from top to bottom ...

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by Lucanus cervus
Thu May 21, 2009 9:23 pm
 
Forum: Molecular Biology
Topic: ATP hydrolysis releases energy, but what kind of energy?
Replies: 5
Views: 1070
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