# photolysis

> English word · Noun

## Definitions
1. Any chemical reaction in which a compound is decomposed after absorbing a photon

## Etymology
From Ancient Greek φωτ- (phōt-), root of φῶς (phôs, “light”) + λύσις (lúsis, “decomposition”). By surface analysis, photo- + -lysis.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/photolysis