Question

Why do hydrolysis reactions occur more readily in solution than dehydration reactions?

Answer 1

Dehydration reactions involve bond formation and require energy, while hydrolysis reactions involve bond breaking and release energy. Hydrolysis reactions occur more readily in solution because water molecules can interact with reactants, making it easier for bonds to break or form.

Step-by-step explanation:

Dehydration and hydrolysis reactions are catalyzed by specific enzymes. Dehydration reactions involve the formation of new bonds, requiring energy, while hydrolysis reactions break bonds and release energy. These reactions occur more readily in solution because water molecules can interact with the reactants, making it easier for the bonds to break or form. In hydrolysis reactions, for example, water molecules can surround and break apart polymer chains, allowing for the release of smaller subunits.

Hydrolysis reactions occur more readily in solution than dehydration reactions because hydrolysis involves the breaking of bonds and the release of energy. On the other hand, dehydration reactions require the formation of new bonds and input of energy. In aqueous solutions, the abundance of water molecules facilitates hydrolysis, as water participates directly in the reaction. For example, in our bodies, hydrolysis occurs when food is broken down into smaller molecules by catalytic enzymes in the digestive system, such as amylase for carbohydrates, proteases like pepsin for proteins, and lipases for lipids, which then provides energy for cellular activities.

Answer 2

In a solution, the hydrolysis reactions occur more readily when compared to the dehydration reactions because, during hydrolysis reactions, the entropy of the system is increased. Further, as the hydrolysis reactions are exergonic, heat is released which increases the rate of the reaction, and thus, they occur faster.