Dehydration reaction
Dehydration Reaction
A Dehydration Reaction (pronounced: dee-hi-dray-shun ree-ak-shun) is a type of chemical reaction that involves the loss of a water molecule from the reacting molecule.
Etymology
The term 'Dehydration Reaction' is derived from the Greek words 'de' meaning 'removal of', 'hydro' meaning 'water', and 'reaction' which is derived from the Latin 'reactio', meaning 'a response'.
Description
In a Dehydration Reaction, two molecules combine to form a larger molecule, with the elimination of a small molecule such as water. This is a common method of polymerization, and is the basis for the synthesis of many important polymers, for example, polyesters and nylons.
In the context of biochemistry, Dehydration Reactions are involved in the formation of many biologically important molecules, including carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids.
Related Terms
- Hydrolysis: The reverse of a Dehydration Reaction, where a water molecule is used to break down a larger molecule.
- Condensation Reaction: A type of reaction where two molecules combine to form a larger molecule, often involving the loss of a small molecule such as water. Dehydration Reactions are a specific type of Condensation Reaction.
- Esterification: A specific type of Dehydration Reaction where an ester is formed from an alcohol and a carboxylic acid.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Dehydration reaction
- Wikipedia's article - Dehydration reaction
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