Esterification: Alcohol + Carboxylic Acid → Ester

Steps:

• Examine the ester structure to identify the alkyl chain from the alcohol (R-OH) and the acyl chain from the acid (R'-COOH).
• The alkyl part is a three-carbon propyl group (CH3CH2CH2-), matching propan-1-ol.
• The acyl part is a two-carbon acetyl group (CH3CO-), matching ethanoic acid (CH3COOH).
• Confirm the combination forms the ester CH3COOCH2CH2CH3 (propyl ethanoate).

Why C is correct:

• In esterification, propan-1-ol (C3H7OH) reacts with ethanoic acid (CH3COOH) to yield the ester with propyl alkyl and ethanoyl acyl groups, per the general formula RCOOR'.

Why the others are wrong:

• A: Forms butyl methanoate (four-carbon alkyl, one-carbon acyl).
• B: Forms ethyl propanoate (two-carbon alkyl, three-carbon acyl).
• D: Forms propyl methanoate (three-carbon alkyl, one-carbon acyl).

Final answer: C