Question

How to prepare alcohol using hydrolysis of esters?

Answer 1

Preparation of Alcohol using Hydrolysis of Esters

• A reaction in which an acid reacts with alcohol in presence of acid to yield ester is called an esterification reaction.
• Esters are chemical compounds that are derived from organic or inorganic acids were at least one hydroxyl group is replaced by an alkoxy group.
• Hydrolysis is a simple reaction with water.
• It can be a reverse of water condensation.
• The general reaction of hydrolysis of the ester by dilute acid and water.
  $\underset{\mathrm{Ester}}{\mathrm{RCOOR}\text{'}}+\underset{\mathrm{Water}}{{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}}\stackrel{{\mathrm{H}}^{+}(\mathrm{aq}.)}{\rightleftharpoons }\underset{\mathrm{Acid}}{\mathrm{RCOOH}}+\underset{\mathrm{Alcohol}}{\mathrm{R}\text{'}\mathrm{OH}}$

Therefore to prepare alcohol using hydrolysis of esters, an esterification reaction is used.