Basic hydrolysis of esters produces:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → Carboxylates
Basic hydrolysis of an ester (saponification) is carried out with aqueous NaOH or KOH. The acid formed is at once neutralised by the base, so the product is the salt of the acid (carboxylate) and the alcohol:
\( \ce{RCOOR' + NaOH} \xrightarrow{\Delta} \ce{RCOO^-Na+ + R'OH} \)
e.g. \( \ce{CH3COOC2H5 + NaOH -> CH3COONa + C2H5OH} \)
The free carboxylic acid is obtained only on acidifying the carboxylate in a separate step.
Why the other options are incorrect
Option (2) Carboxylic acids — Incorrect. These are formed by acidic hydrolysis (RCOOR′ + \( \ce{H2O} \) ⇌ RCOOH + R′OH, with \( \ce{H^{+}} \)), or by acidifying the carboxylate; in base the acid is converted to its salt.
Option (3) Aldehydes — Incorrect. Hydrolysis does not reduce the ester; aldehydes are formed from esters only by partial reduction with DIBAL-H.
Option (4) Ketones — Incorrect. No ketone is formed; the C–O bond of the ester is split into acid (salt) and alcohol.
NCERT (2026-27 edition):
From Esters
