Which process involves the release of monomers through the addition of a water molecule?

The process that involves the release of monomers through the addition of a water molecule is hydrolysis. During hydrolysis, a water molecule is added to a polymer, which results in breaking the bonds between monomers, thus separating them into individual units. This process is essential in metabolism, especially in breaking down complex carbohydrates, proteins, and fats into their respective monomers, such as sugars, amino acids, and fatty acids, respectively.

In contrast, dehydration synthesis, also known as condensation reaction, works by removing a water molecule to form bonds between monomers, thereby creating complex molecules from simpler ones. Polymerization describes the general process of forming polymers from monomer units, but it does not specifically involve the addition of water. Therefore, understanding hydrolysis as the reverse of dehydration synthesis clarifies its role in the breakdown of polymers into monomers efficiently.