If any substance producing H+ is acid, but in esterification reaction carboxylic acid is an acid but it breaks OH bond and releases hydroxyl ion so it should be base, why it is breaking OH bond instead of giving hydronium ion?
Which of the following statement is true regarding esterification of a carboxylic with an alcohol ?
(i) It is carried out in presence of a strong acid which acts as a catalyst.
(ii) The strong acid makes the carbonyl carbon more electrophilic, and hence causes the alcohol, a strong nucleophile to attack on the carbonyl carbon.
(iii) The strong acid makes the carbonyl group more electrophilic which is thus attacked easily by an alcohol. a weak nucleophile.
(iv) Esterification can be done even in absence of a strong, acid.