Chemistry

Difference Between Hydrolysis and Dehydration Synthesis Explained

Difference chemical reactions take place in the body at all times and they can be grouped according to the properties that they have. In some reactions, things are made and they are called anabolic reactions while catabolic reactions refer to those reactions in which molecules are broken down.

The Difference between Hydrolysis and Dehydration Synthesis is that dehydration synthesis results in the formation of bigger molecules by joining smaller molecules while hydrolysis is the breakdown of large molecules into smaller ones. Both of these reactions involve water.

Dehydration Synthesis: Definition and Process.

Dehydration synthesis is the process in which larger molecules are made from smaller ones and water is released. Two smaller molecules join together in a covalent bond formation and with each bond formation, a water molecule is released. So, the final compound that is formed after this process is a molecule that is more complex than the reactant molecule.

This reaction takes place between those molecules that have a proton available and also have a hydroxyl molecule. It can also be called a condensation reaction as water is formed. In the body, these reactions are used for forming complex macromolecules.

An example of dehydration synthesis is the formation of the ester by the bonding of alcohol and carboxylic acid. In this reaction, a water molecule is released which gets its H from alcohol and OH from a carboxylic acid.

Common examples of dehydration synthesis are the formation of a glycosidic bond, which is formed between two carbohydrates, and formation of a peptide bond, which is formed between two amino acids.

Hydrolysis: Definition and Process.

Hydrolysis is the reaction in which the chemical bond is cleaved and water is present. In this process, water acts as a reactant and the final result is breakage of the bond between two amino acids or carbohydrates. The reactants are complex molecules that break down to form smaller and less complex molecules.

Hydrolysis of an ester can be used as an example of a hydrolysis reaction. In this reaction, alcohol and carboxylic acid both get H and OH from the water molecule and they form their respective bases.

So, a larger molecule is split into smaller molecules. Water plays the role of a reactant and this reaction is the opposite of a condensation reaction. Hydrolysis is the major reaction that takes place in the body during the digestion of larger macromolecules to smaller monomers. Food particles are broken down into smaller molecules, which are then used for energy.

Summary of Difference Between Hydrolysis and Dehydration Synthesis:

  • The Difference between Hydrolysis and Dehydration Synthesis is that hydrolysis requires water as a react while in dehydration synthesis, water is produced as a product.
  • Another Difference between Hydrolysis and Dehydration Synthesis is that hydrolysis breaks down bigger molecules into smaller ones while dehydration synthesis leads to the formation of larger molecules from smaller ones.
  • In dehydration synthesis, the reactants are less complex as compared to the products while in hydrolysis, reactants are more complex as compared to the products.
  • Both reactions involve water and dehydration synthesis can also be called condensation reaction.

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