1. a chemical reaction in which an acid and an alcohol combine to form an ester and water
Usage: chemistry term; commonly taught in organic chemistry courses

Examples

• The esterification of acetic acid and ethanol produces ethyl acetate.
• In the lab, students observed esterification when they mixed the acid and alcohol with a catalyst.
• Esterification is a reversible reaction that can be shifted by removing water.
• The esterification process is used industrially to produce many common compounds.
• Sulfuric acid is often used as a catalyst to speed up esterification reactions.
• Fats and oils are formed through esterification of glycerol and fatty acids.