How do you write the balanced chemical equation for the acid hydrolysis of methyl butanoate?

1 Answer
Dec 19, 2016

#"C"_3"H"_7"COOCH"_3 + "H"_2"O/H"^+ rarr "C"_3"H"_7"COOH" + "CH"_3"OH"#

Explanation:

When we talk about the acid hydrolysis of an ester, we really mean just adding water to that ester (using an acid catalyst) and breaking the ester bond (#"COO"#) to form an alcohol and a carboxylic acid.