Is an esterification reaction exothermic or endothermic?

1 Answer
Jan 19, 2017

Well, you are making bonds, and spitting out water......

Explanation:

......so we would predict the reaction to be exothermic:

#RCO_2H + HOR' rarr RCO_2R' + H_2O#

Of course, most of the time, esterifications are conducted under reflux conditions. The activation energy has to be supplied.