Question

Give suitable reaction to show that trans esterification is an alcoholysis reaction.

Answer 1

The reaction of a triglyceride with a simple alcohol such as methanol or ethanol to give the methyl or ethyl esters of the fatty acid, as well as glycerol is an example of alcoholysis but is known as a transesterification reaction due to the exchange of the alcohol fragments.

$\text{Tri glyceride}+\text{Methanol}⟶\text{Fatty acid methyl ester}+\text{Glycerol}$