Final answer:
Hydrolysis is a chemical reaction where a substance reacts with water, breaking its bonds. This process is commonly observed in the digestion of food molecules.
Step-by-step explanation:
Hydrolysis is a chemical reaction in which a substance reacts with water, resulting in the breaking of bonds in the compound. The water molecule is split into H and OH, and the severed compound forms new bonds with these groups. In biology, hydrolysis is commonly observed in the digestion of food molecules, where enzymes break down larger molecules into smaller ones through the addition of water.