Question

What is the difference between the terms hydrolysis and hydration?

Answer 1

Hint: As we know that water molecules whenever added to a compound, it tends to break down the molecules and sometimes the water molecules are added into any substance to form a more stable and reactive compound.

Complete answer:
Hydrolysis
As we know that the term hydrolysis as the name suggests is the process of breakdown of molecules of a compound and addition of hydrogen and hydroxide ions with the breakdown products. In other words we can say that hydrolysis is the reaction of the water molecule with another compound and results into the formation of a new product.

For instance: a very common example of hydrolysis is when carbon dioxide and water molecules react with each other and result in the formation of new compound carbonic acid. We can show this reaction with the help of an equation:
\[2C{O_2} + 4{H^ + } + 2{O^{2 - }} \rightleftharpoons 2{H_2}C{O_3}\]

Hydration
Next the term is Hydration, as the name suggests Hydration is the process of involving or addition of water molecules to form hydrated salts of hydrated ions. It is one of the most important processes because almost all the biological reactions occur in the water medium. The hydration term is also a medical term which includes water intake by drinking as well as intravenously. When the amount in the body of an individual is low which is commonly called dehydration, water can be given to the individual to bring the water levels again to the original state.

For instance: ethylene hydration to form ethanol.
${C_2}{H_2}\xrightarrow{{{H_2}O}}{C_2}{H_5}OH$

Note:Hydrolysis is simply composed of two simple words that are hydro meaning water and lysis meaning to breakdown or unbind. A common hydrolysis reaction takes place when salts of weak acids or weak bases or both are dissolved in water which ionises into hydronium and hydroxide ions whereas hydration involves the addition of these ions to form a new compound.