Final answer:
Hydrolysis describes the breakdown of polymers into monomers through the addition of water, where a water molecule splits, adding H+ to one monomer and OH- to another.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term hydrolysis relates to polymers in that it describes the process whereby polymers are broken down into monomers through the addition of water. Specifically, a water molecule is used to break the bonds between monomers, causing the polymer to split into two parts. One part of the polymer gains a hydrogen atom (H+), and the other gains a hydroxyl molecule (OH-) from the split water molecule.
On the contrary, the formation of polymers from monomers is achieved through dehydration synthesis, a process opposite to hydrolysis, where a molecule of water is released as monomers bond to form polymers. The hydrogen from one monomer joins with the hydroxyl group of another, facilitating the formation of covalent bonds that link the monomers together into a polymer chain.
Therefore, the correct answer to how hydrolysis applies to polymers is a) Polymers break down into monomers with the addition of water.