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In organic chemistry, a hydration reaction is a chemical reaction in which a hydroxyl group (OH<sup>-</sup>) and a hydrogen cation (an acidic proton) are added to the two carbon atoms bonded together in the carbon-carbon double bond which makes up an alkene functional group. The reaction usually runs in a strong acidic, aqueous solution. Hydration differs from hydrolysis in that hydrolysis cleaves the non-water component in two. Hydration leaves the non-water component intact.