Which statement about hydrolysis is true?

Which statement about hydrolysis is true?

• A. It uses water to break bonds in a polymer
• B. It produces water when breaking bonds
• C. It makes polymers from monomers
• D. It never occurs under mild conditions

Answer: (A)

Hydrolysis is the reaction where water is used to break bonds in a larger molecule. In a polymer, a water molecule donates a hydrogen to one part and an hydroxyl group to the other, splitting the linkage and yielding smaller units or monomers. So the statement that hydrolysis uses water to break bonds in a polymer is the best description. Hydrolysis does not produce water; it consumes it. That’s the opposite of what dehydration synthesis (polymerization) does, which forms water as bonds are created. Also, hydrolysis can occur under mild conditions, especially with catalysts like acids, bases, or enzymes, so saying it never happens under mild conditions isn’t accurate.

Hydrolysis is the reaction where water is used to break bonds in a larger molecule. In a polymer, a water molecule donates a hydrogen to one part and an hydroxyl group to the other, splitting the linkage and yielding smaller units or monomers. So the statement that hydrolysis uses water to break bonds in a polymer is the best description.

Hydrolysis does not produce water; it consumes it. That’s the opposite of what dehydration synthesis (polymerization) does, which forms water as bonds are created. Also, hydrolysis can occur under mild conditions, especially with catalysts like acids, bases, or enzymes, so saying it never happens under mild conditions isn’t accurate.