A chemical reaction of a compound with water. For instance, salts of weak acids or bases hydrolyse in aqueous solution, as in
The reverse reaction of esterification is another example. See alsosolvolysis.
Geology and Earth Sciences
1. Reaction between a substance and water in which the substance is split into two or more products. At the points of cleavage the products react with the hydrogen or hydroxyl ions derived from water.
2. Process of enriching the soil adsorption complex with hydrogen after exchangeable metallic ions have been replaced by hydrogen ions. Compareweathering.
Geography
The chemical reaction of a compound with water. Hydrolysis is an important component of soil formation, and of chemical weathering—for example, as feldspars in granite decompose to make china clay.