Hydrolytic agents, such as sulphuric acid or caustic
alkali. --Encyc. Brit.
{Hydrolytic ferment} (Physiol. Chem.), a ferment, enzyme, or
chemical ferment, which acts only in the presence of
water, and which causes the substance acted upon to take
up a molecule of water. Thus, diastase of malt, ptyalin of
saliva, and boiling dilute sulphuric acid all convert
starch by hydration into dextrin and sugar. Nearly all of
the digestive ferments are hydrolytic in their action.