Alcoholysis

/ˌælkəˈhɒlɪsɪs/ noun

Definition

A chemical reaction in which a molecule is broken down using alcohol as the splitting agent, similar to hydrolysis but with alcohol instead of water.

Etymology

Compound of 'alcohol' (Arabic) and '-lysis' (from Greek lysis, meaning a loosening or breaking apart). This chemistry term emerged in the late 19th century as organic chemistry advanced.

Kelly Says

Just as 'hydrolysis' uses water to split molecules, 'alcoholysis' uses alcohol — it's the perfect example of how chemistry just takes a basic concept and swaps in different chemical reagents to create new reactions.

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