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Glite Dictionary
esterification

esterification

1 7.8
A chemical reaction where an acid and an alcohol form an ester and water
  • noun
  • /ˌɛstərɪfɪˈkeɪʃən/
  • Specialized
: esterificación
  • Chemists utilize esterification to create flavors and fragrances by combining specific acids and alcohols.

Examples

  • It also activates LCAT, which is essential for cholesterol esterification.

    Academic text (2007)

  • During esterification, an acid and an alcohol chemically react to produce an ester and water.

  • And what we can see is through a, a linkage known as esterification, we can create this molecule.

  • It was Fischer esterification in this situation where it doesn't work right.

  • The process of esterification occurs when an alcohol reacts with an acid to form an ester in a laboratory.

Surface Forms

esterification singular
esterifications plural

Morphology

esterification = esterify (semi-transparent) = ester + fic + ation

The transformation from 'esterify' to 'esterification' is clear, but the base 'ester' may not be familiar to all learners.

Etymology

Esterification comes from ester, a type of chemical often with a fruity smell, and the ending -ification, which means 'making' as in purification. So esterification literally means 'making esters', the reaction where an acid and an alcohol join to form an ester and water.