Biology A-Level
hydrolysis
What hydrolysis means in Biology A-Level, as defined for AQA, OCR.
Definitions of hydrolysis
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Reference: OCR
The reverse of condensation, in which water is added across each ester bond, splitting the triglyceride back into glycerol and three fatty acids.
The addition of water across each peptide bond, splitting the chain back into amino acids and reversing condensation.
A water molecule is used to break a bond, the reverse of the condensation reaction that built the molecule.
The process that reverses the joining of amino acids, requiring water to break the bond.
Reverses condensation exactly, breaking the peptide bond and using a molecule of water.
Water is added to break the phosphodiester bond, releasing individual nucleotides.
Topics that use hydrolysis
- Digestion and absorption (AQA A-Level)
- General properties of proteins (AQA A-Level)
- Biological molecules (OCR A-Level)
- Nucleotides and nucleic acids (OCR A-Level)
Related terms
- peptide bond
- Structure–function relationship
- active sites and binding sites
- amino acids
- amylase and maltose
- amylose and amylopectin
- ATP and ADP as energy carriers
- Benedict's test for reducing and non-reducing sugars
Using hydrolysis in the exam
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