Question

Q: How can we get back ethanoic acid from ester?

Answer 1

Hey friend !!

Here is your answer..

By adding water to ester we can get ethanouc acid back.

Here is the following reaction which takes place.

CH3COOC2H5 + H2O ----> CH3COOH +C2H5OH

Answer 2

Ester can be reversed back to Ethanoic acid
By a reversible process called 'hydrolysis'. The reaction can be carried out in either acidic or basic conditions.
The reaction of ester with water is very slow and is generally catalyzed by dilute acids, such as hydrochloric acid and sulfuric acid. The resultant breakdown of ester is a reversible reaction.

For example--ethyl ethanoate can be converted to ethanoic acid and ethanol as per the following reaction:
CH3COOCH2CH3 + H2O + Heat ------------> CH3COOH + CH3CH2OH (using aqueous acid).
Hope it helps.