rare. [f. chem- in chemic, etc. + Gr. λύσις loosening; after electrolysis.] Chemical decomposition: ‘name by Thudichum for the decomposition of organic compounds into more simple substances by merely chemical agents’ (Syd. Soc. Lex.). So Chemolyse v. [cf. ANALYSE], trans. to decompose by chemical agency; Chemolytic a. [Gr. λυτικός loosening], relating to chemolysis.
1872. Thudichum, Chem. Phys., 17. Both acids yield by chemolysis, cholic acid. Ibid. The liver splits up or chemolyses albuminous substances. Ibid., 8. The chemolytic method of research.
1878. Kingzett, Anim. Chem., 369. In some chemolytic experiments upon albumin.
