Hydrolysis is a chemical reaction in which water reacts with another compound to split it apart. Appropriately, this process takes its name from the Greek expression meaning "breaking up with water." Hydrolysis occurs because water forms negative and positive ions which can displace other chemical species in solution, thus causing changes in chemical bonds. Hydrolytic reactions may be accelerated by the addition of a catalyst, such as an enzyme, or by controlling other reaction factors such as temperature and pH. These reactions are important in many biochemical processes, particularly in enzyme catalyzed reactions such as those used in digestion. Hydrolysis reactions are also commonly used in the synthesis of industrial chemicals such as glycerine and alcohol.

In inorganic chemistry, hydrolysis is typified by the dissolution of salts made from weak acids and strong bases, such as sodium acetate. For example, when sodium acetate dissolves in water, it is...