What is Hydration?

Hydration is the process by which molecules of water form layers around ions of ionic compounds (example, salts) in aqueous solutions. This makes it possible for water to dissolve ionic compounds - the layers reduce significantly the attractive forces between their ions.

Energy is released in this process, which is called hydration energy.

Difference Between Hydrolysis and Hydration

The major differences between the two are:

1. Hydrolysis determines the pH of the solution, hydration does not.

2. Hydrolysis involves the split of water molecules into its ions, i.e. H⁺ and OH^- which then combine with the opposite ions of the salt in solution. In hydration, no covalent bonds are broken or formed, it is only an electrostatic attraction between the ions in solution and water molecules.