Chemistry
The Acid-Catalyzed Hydrolysis of Esters: Mechanism and Applications
Quick fact
Using an acid catalyst, esters can be hydrolyzed in water, but the reaction is reversible and reaches equilibrium—if you use 18O-labeled water, the label ends up in the carboxylic acid, confirming that the acyl–oxygen bond breaks, not the alkyl–oxygen bond.
Why this is interesting
You may not realize it, but your body is constantly breaking down fats and other esters using water and acid. How does a simple ester get transformed into an acid and an alcohol with just a little acid and water?