Hydrolysis Reactions
* Esters hydrolysis requires heat and a catalyst
a) acid catalysed ester hydrolysis
equilibrium ? use a large excess of water
mechanism is the reverse of acid catalysed esterification
b) Saponification: base catalysed ester hydrolysis
[hydrolysis of an animal fat, glycerol (3 x acid esterified with long chain alcohols:fatty acids) yields soaps]