reverse The process is called esterification. It happens when a carboxylic acid and an
alcohol react, a water molecule is removed, and an ester molecule is formed. Since the
reaction is a reversible process, the amount of products and reactants present as the
reaction proceeds should eventually reach equilibrium. Therefore, the experimental
conditions should involve the use of reactants carboxylic acid and alcohol, the use of
acid catalyst, such as sulfuric acid, reflux followed by the removal water.
According of to Le Chtelier's principle, when equilibrium is disturbed or when trying to
establish an equilibrium, the reaction will move towards the direction that relieves the
stress of change in condition. The conditions above all try to push the reaction toward
the right, making ester. Start with only reactants make the reaction go to product side,
use catalysts make the forward reaction go faster, and removing water, the product,
also pushes the reaction to the right.