Write down the initial concentration of the solution used for the hydrolysis process. Label this constant "c."
Use the hydrolysis constant equation to compute an algebraic expression. For example, the equation for acetate hydrolysis is CH3COO^- +H2O <----> CH3COOH + OH^-, producing a constant of Kb = [CH3COOH] [OH-] / [CH3COO-] = 2.9 * 10^-7. The number 2.9 * 10^-7 is the default value of the constant.
Substitute algebraically, replacing the concentration to be computed with "x." The example above would produce x * x / (c -- x) = 2.9 * 10^-7, where "c" is the initial concentration from step 1. This equation makes sense because the concentration that is used from the original concentration becomes the concentration of the products.
Compute "x" from the formula above. For instance, if the concentration was 0.10 M, the value of "x" would be 1.7 * 10^-4 M.
Use the percentage hydrolysis definition "% hydrolysis = hydrolyzed concentration / initial concentration * 100." The example above produces a % hydrolysis = [CH3COO-] hydrolyzed / [CH3COO-] original * 100 = 1.7 * 10 ^ -4 M / 0.10 M *100 = 0.17%.