Question

Difference between saponification and esterification?

Answer 1

Esters are the organic compounds containing carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms in their structures. Esterification is a process used to prepare esters and saponification is the reverse process of esterification nothing but fragmentation of esters.

Complete step-by-step answer: - In the question it is asked to write the differences between saponification and esterification.

S.NO	Esterification	Saponification
1	In esterification there is an involvement of alcohol and carboxylic acid.	In saponification there is an involvement of carboxylic acid and base.
2	Here there is a use of minimum amount of acid	Here there is no use of an acid
3	Here we can prepare esters from acids and alcohols.	Here we can prepare soaps from carboxylic acids.
4	Here we need a catalyst to prepare esters and the catalyst is an acid.	Here there is a need for a catalyst and the catalyst used in this reaction is a base.
5	We will prepare esters from carboxylic acids and alcohols	We will prepare soap in this process.
6	This reaction needs heat energy to do this chemical reaction.	There is no need for heat energy to do this chemical reaction.

Additional Information:
Esterification:
The chemical reaction of the esterification reaction is as follows.
${{C}_{2}}{{H}_{5}}OH+C{{H}_{3}}COOH\xrightarrow{Conc.{{H}_{2}}S{{O}_{4}}}C{{H}_{3}}COO{{C}_{2}}{{H}_{5}}$
Saponification:
The chemical reaction of esterification reaction is as follows.$C{{H}_{3}}COO{{C}_{2}}{{H}_{5}}+NaOH\to {{C}_{2}}{{H}_{5}}OH+C{{H}_{3}}COONa$

Note: Esterification is also called the condensation reaction of alcohols and carboxylic acids. Saponification is also called as decomposition reaction of esters to sodium salts of fatty acids by using an alkali solution.