The correct answer is c) hydrolysis.
During digestion, the body breaks down food into smaller, absorbable components through a process called hydrolysis. In this process, water is used to break chemical bonds in complex molecules, such as carbohydrates, proteins, and fats, transforming them into simpler sugars, amino acids, and fatty acids. This is critical for our bodies to absorb nutrients efficiently. Unlike dehydration synthesis, which is a process that links smaller molecules together to form larger ones by removing water, hydrolysis specifically involves the addition of water to cleave these bonds. Therefore, hydrolysis is essential in our digestive system to ensure that we can utilize the nutrients from the food we consume.