Question

The hydrolysis of an ester in presence of an alkali is known as saponification.

• A. True
• B. False

Answer 1

The correct option is A True

The hydrolysis of an ester in an alkali solution is the primary reaction for the creation of soap. Since the end product is a soap, the process is called saponification.
For example, ethyl ethanoate-an ester, reacts with a strong base like sodium hydroxide $\left(NaOH\right)$ to give ethanol and ethanoic acid as shown below.
${\mathrm{CH}}_3{\mathrm{COOC}}_2{H}_5\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)\underset{}{\overset{\mathrm{NaOH}}{\to }}{\mathrm{CH}}_3{\mathrm{CH}}_2\mathrm{OH}\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)+{\mathrm{CH}}_3\mathrm{COOH}\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)\mathrm{Ethyl}\mathrm{ethanoate}\mathrm{Ethanol}\mathrm{Ethanoic}\mathrm{acid}$