Hydrolysis vs. Hydration
Main DifferenceThe main difference between Hydrolysis and Hydration is that Hydrolysis involves the splitting of water molecules, whereas Hydration generally does not always involve the splitting of water molecules.

Difference Between Hydrolysis and Hydration
Hydrolysis vs. Hydration
The ions of H2O, H+ ions and OH- ions react with anions and cations to form the base and acid is known as hydrolysis; on the other hand, the addition of H2O molecules to ions or substances to produce hydrated salts or hydrated ions is known as hydration.
Hydrolysis vs. Hydration
Hydrolysis deliberates as the twice time decomposing of the reaction method with water usually as one of the reactants, while hydration deliberates as to the chemical method, which involves water molecules that associate with a substance.
Hydrolysis vs. Hydration
With a breakdown of bond in water molecules, hydrolysis usually occurs, whereas hydration generally happens in organic molecules with a bond interruption, but many times in inorganic compounds, no decomposition in bonds happen.
Hydrolysis vs. Hydration
From unsaturated compounds, hydrolysis usually forms the saturated compounds; on the other hand, from dehydrated compounds, the hydrated compounds form by hydration.
Hydrolysis vs. Hydration
The reaction of anion, cation, or sometimes both occur in hydrolysis with water to change the pH of water; on the contrary, in hydration, the adjoining of the solute molecules by solvent molecules happens.
Hydrolysis vs. Hydration
As hydrolysis involves the breakdown of bonds and molecules, so hydrolysis deliberates as to the chemical process; on the flip side, as hydration does not involve any chemical breakdown of molecules or bonds, so hydration deliberates as to the physical method.
Hydrolysis vs. Hydration
The pH of hydrolysis either increases or decreases throughout the method of a chemical reaction; on the other hand, the pH of hydration constantly rests in the reaction process.
Hydrolysis vs. Hydration
The example of hydrolysis is considered as Na2CO3 + 2H2O → 2NaOH + H2CO3, while the example of hydration is deliberated as K+Cl- + H2O → K+ (aq) + Cl- (aq).
Hydrolysisnoun
(chemistry) A chemical process of decomposition involving the splitting of a bond and the addition of the hydrogen cation and the hydroxide anion of water.
Hydrationnoun
(chemistry) the incorporation of water molecules into a complex with those of another compound
Hydrolysisnoun
a chemical reaction in which water reacts with a compound to produce other compounds; involves the splitting of a bond and the addition of the hydrogen cation and the hydroxide anion from the water
Hydrationnoun
(biology) the process of providing an adequate amount of water to body tissues
Hydrationnoun
(construction) the chemical reaction by which a substance (such as cement) combines with water, giving off heat to form a crystalline structure in its setting and hardening.
Hydrationnoun
the process of combining with water; usually reversible
Comparison Chart
Hydrolysis | Hydration |
Hydrolysis generally refers to the cleavage of complex bonds by splitting the water molecules. | Hydration usually refers to the addition of H2O molecules to ions or substances to produce hydrated salts or hydrated ions. |
Chemical Bonds | |
Usually happens with a breakdown of bond in water molecules. | Organic molecule's hydration generally happens with a bond breakdown, but sometimes no breakdown in bonds occurs in inorganic compounds. |
Nature | |
It produces saturated compounds, usually from unsaturated compounds. | Hydrated compounds produce by hydration from dehydrated compounds. |
Feature | |
Consider the double breakdown reaction process with water, usually as one of the reactants. | Consider the chemical method which involves water molecules that combine with a substance. |
Reaction Process | |
The reaction of anion, cation, or sometimes both occur with water to alter the pH of the water. | The surrounding of the solute molecules by solvent molecules occurs. |
Consider As | |
Consider the chemical process because it involves the breakdown of bonds and molecules. | Consider the physical process because it does not involve any chemical breakdown of molecules or bonds. |
pH Change | |
Either increases or decreases during the process of chemical reaction in which anions or cations relatively alter the ph of water | Remains constant in the reaction process |
Example | |
Na2CO3 + 2H2O → 2NaOH + H2CO3 | K+Cl- + H2O → K+ (aq) + Cl- (aq) |
Hydrolysis vs. Hydration
Hydrolysis considers as the double breakdown reaction process with water usually as one of the reactants, while hydration considers as the chemical method which involves water molecules that combine with a substance. Hydrolysis usually happens with a breakdown of bond in water molecules, whereas in organic molecules, hydration generally happens with the bond breakdown, but sometimes no breakdown in bonds occurs in inorganic compounds.
Hydrolysis produces the saturated compounds usually from unsaturated compounds; on the other hand, hydrated compounds produce by hydration from dehydrated compounds. In hydrolysis, the reaction of anion, cation, or sometimes both occur with water to alter the pH of water; on the contrary, in hydration, the surrounding of the solute molecules by solvent molecules occurs. Hydrolysis considers as the chemical process because it involves the breakdown of bonds and molecules; on the flip side, hydration considers as the physical process because it does not involve any chemical breakdown of molecules or bonds.
The pH of hydrolysis either increases or decreases during the process of chemical reaction in which anions or cations relatively alter the ph of water; on the other hand, the pH of hydration remains constant in the reaction process. The example of hydrolysis is given as Na2CO3 + 2H2O → 2NaOH + H2CO3, while the example of hydration is given as K+Cl– + H2O → K+ (aq) + Cl– (aq).
What is Hydrolysis?
Hydrolysis is the term that generally involves the double breakdown reaction process with water usually as one of the reactants. Hydrolysis is the reactions that are frequently reversible process.
According to the Bronsted-Lowry acid-base theory in which water can act as a base or an acid. This theory is stated as: “the acid usually produces its conjugate base, and the base normally produces its conjugate acid through the exchange of proton when an acid and a base react with each other.”
If a water molecule performs as a Bronsted-Lowry acid, then it means the molecules of water donates a proton. If a water molecule performs as a Bronsted-Lowry base, then it usually means the molecule of water accepts a proton by normally producing the hydronium ion (H3O+). The ions of H2O, H+ ions and OH- ions react with anions and cations to form the base and acid of a salt respectively to give the original base, and the original acid is generally known as hydrolysis.
Hydrolysis considers the chemical process because it involves the breakdown of bonds and molecules. The pH of hydrolysis either increases or decreases during the process of chemical reaction in which anions or cations relatively alter the ph of water. The main hydrolysis types, which are acid hydrolysis, base hydrolysis, and sat hydrolysis.
The example of hydrolysis is given as Na2CO3 + 2H2O → 2NaOH + H2CO3, which describes that when sodium carbonate reacts with water molecules, then it usually forms the sodium hydroxide (base) and a carbonic acid with the breakdown of water molecules.
Types of Hydrolysis
- Acid Hydrolysis: The resemblance with an acid dissociation reaction is generally known as acid hydrolysis.
- Base Hydrolysis: The resemblance with a base dissociation reaction is usually known as base hydrolysis. In this hydrolysis, the water usually donates a proton by forming a hydroxide ion (OH–). Hence, it means that water generally performs as Bronsted-Lowry acid.
- Salt Hydrolysis: The salt usually separates into its ions when salt is mix in water. When a weak acid’s or a weak base’s salt is usually mixed in water, then water ionizes this salt mixing and then produces hydronium cations and hydroxide anions. The dissolved salt can also separate into its anions or cations, which is generally called as salt hydrolysis.
What is Hydration?
The term hydration defines as the chemical method, which involves molecules of water that combine or link with a substance. More, the addition of H2O molecules to ions or substances to produce hydrated salts or hydrated ions is known as hydration. Hydration considers as the physical process because it does not involve any chemical breakdown of molecules or bonds and usually forms from the desiccants (a compound that can easily absorb water).
The pH of hydration remains constant in the reaction process. Organic molecule’s hydration generally happens with a bond breakdown, but sometimes no breakdown in bonds occurs in inorganic compounds because it is the connotation of water molecules with compounds. In Organic chemistry, the molecules of water are entering to the point where an unsaturation is available. At this point, the water molecules break down into a hydroxide ion and a proton.
The hydroxide ion usually produces the bond with a carbon atom, which possesses more substituents. The proton generally combined with carbon that has less number of substituents which usually monitors the Markovnikov’s rule.
Hydration in inorganic chemistry generally denotes the connectivity of molecules of water with an inorganic compound. For instance, in the process of sulfate, which generally produces the TiO2 pigments usually from Ilmenite sand (FeTiO3), and the byproduct which is formed is FeSO4.
When a salt mixed into the water, it generally forms the anion and cations, which then separated from each other by the hydration of ions through water molecules. In this process, the molecules of water usually surround the ions of salt, which is known as hydration. The example of hydration is given as K+Cl– + H2O → K+ (aq) + Cl– (aq).
ConclusionThe above discussion concludes that hydrolysis involves the splitting of water molecules, and the pH of hydrolysis either increases or decreases during the process of chemical reaction in which anions or cations relatively alter the ph of water. Whereas hydration generally does not always involve the splitting of water molecules and the pH of hydration remains constant in the reaction process.