FPGEE for National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) Practice Exam

Which chemical process involves the breakdown of complex molecules by water addition?

1. Oxidation

2. Hydrolysis

3. Photolysis

4. Fermentation

The correct answer is: Hydrolysis

Hydrolysis is the correct answer because it specifically refers to a chemical process in which water is used to break down complex molecules into simpler ones. In hydrolysis, water molecules are added to bonds in the complex molecules, leading to their cleavage. This process is essential in various biological and chemical contexts, such as the digestion of food, where larger macromolecules like carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids are hydrolyzed into their building blocks (i.e., sugars, amino acids, and fatty acids) to be utilized by organisms. In contrast, oxidation pertains to the loss of electrons from a substance, often leading to the increase in oxidation state, but does not involve the addition of water for the breakdown of molecules. Photolysis involves the breaking down of substances through the absorption of light energy, not water. Fermentation is a metabolic process that converts sugars to acids, gases, or alcohol in the absence of oxygen and does not specifically involve the breakdown of molecules by the addition of water. Thus, hydrolysis is distinguished by its unique role in the biochemical cleavage of complex compounds through water.