Which statement describes saponification of esters?

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Multiple Choice

Which statement describes saponification of esters?

Saponification is the base-catalyzed hydrolysis of an ester. In the presence of a strong base like NaOH, the ester reacts to give a carboxylate salt and an alcohol. Mechanistically, hydroxide attacks the carbonyl carbon, the tetrahedral intermediate forms, the leaving group OR′ departs as RO−, and this alkoxide is protonated to give the alcohol. The carboxylate remains as a salt (for example, sodium carboxylate) because the base is present. So the products are a carboxylate salt and an alcohol. The other possibilities don’t fit because acid hydrolysis would yield a carboxylic acid and alcohol, and saponification under basic conditions does not produce an aldehyde or an ether.

Saponification is the base-catalyzed hydrolysis of an ester. In the presence of a strong base like NaOH, the ester reacts to give a carboxylate salt and an alcohol. Mechanistically, hydroxide attacks the carbonyl carbon, the tetrahedral intermediate forms, the leaving group OR′ departs as RO−, and this alkoxide is protonated to give the alcohol. The carboxylate remains as a salt (for example, sodium carboxylate) because the base is present. So the products are a carboxylate salt and an alcohol. The other possibilities don’t fit because acid hydrolysis would yield a carboxylic acid and alcohol, and saponification under basic conditions does not produce an aldehyde or an ether.

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