Which of the following reactions is a hydrolysis reaction?

Question

A.  A + B + H2O ® C
B.  A ® B + C+ H2O
C.  A + B ® C + H2O
D.  A + H2O ® B + C  

Clarify Question
· What is the key concept addressed by the question?
· What type of thinking is required?
· What key words does the question contain and what do they mean?

Gather Content
· What do you know about hydrolysis reactions? How does it relate to the question?

Consider Possibilities  
· What other information is related to the question? Which information is most useful?

Choose Answer
· Given what you now know, what information and/or problem solving approach is most likely to produce the correct answer?

Reflect on Process
· Did your problem-solving process lead you to the correct answer? If not, where did the process break down or lead you astray? How can you revise your approach to produce a more desirable result?

Answer 1

D.  A + H2O ® B + C  

Clarify Question
· What is the key concept addressed by the question?
        o The question asks about hydrolysis reactions.
· What type of thinking is required?
        o You are being asked to apply your knowledge of hydrolysis reactions to identify one.
· What key words does the question contain and what do they mean?
        o Hydrolysis reaction – these reactions use water to break down a polymer into monomers.

Gather Content
· What do you know about hydrolysis reactions? How does it relate to the question?
        o Hydrolysis reactions are used to break a polymer down into monomers.  The roots “hydro” meaning water and “lysis” meaning to break give clues to what this reaction is doing.
        o Water is used in the reaction.

Consider Possibilities  
· What other information is related to the question? Which information is most useful?
        o The two reactions with water on the product side of the reaction (right side) are releasing water and are thus not hydrolysis reactions.  A ® B + C+ H2O and A + B ® C + H2O
        o Reactions with one product and two reactants are synthesizing molecules and not breaking them down A + B ® C + H2O and  A + B + H2O ® C

Choose Answer
· Given what you now know, what information and/or problem solving approach is most likely to produce the correct answer?
        o The best answer is A + H2O ® B + C.  In this case the reactant A is being broken down to form B and C.  Water is used in the reaction to break down A, making it a hydrolysis reaction.

Reflect on Process
· Did your problem-solving process lead you to the correct answer? If not, where did the process break down or lead you astray? How can you revise your approach to produce a more desirable result?
        o This question asked you to apply the definition of a hydrolysis reaction to identify it from several examples. If you got the correct answer, great job! If you got an incorrect answer, where did the process break down? Did you recall the definition of a hydrolysis reaction and that water used to lyse or break down a molecule?  Did you realize that in addition to using water these involve breaking down a polymer into two monomers?