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A-Level Biology OCR A

Water Binds Part Explain Polar Nature Reactant Hydrolysis

Water participates in hydrolysis reactions because its polarity enables it to break down molecules by adding a water molecule across the bond.

Water acts as a reactant in hydrolysis reactions, where its polar nature allows it to split polymers by adding a water molecule, with the hydrogen and OH groups attaching to different parts of the broken molecule.

Front Explain why the polar nature of water allows it to be a useful reactant.
Back Water as a reactant:
  • In hydrolysis it is able to split up polymers or join them together by being removed from them
  • This is due to the partial positive charge on the hydrogens, one of them splits away from the OH and binds to one part of the polymer while the OH binds to the other part

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