Esterification eliminates water from reactants

Steps:

• Carboxylic acid general formula: RCOOH (carbons in R + 1C, hydrogens in R + 1H, 2O).
• Alcohol general formula: R'OH (carbons in R', hydrogens in R' + 1H, 1O).
• Ester formed: RCOOR' (all carbons from both, total H minus 2, total O minus 1) + H2O byproduct.
• Water (H2O) removes 2H and 1O, leaving same total C in ester.

Why C is correct:

• In esterification, RCOOH + R'OH → RCOOR' + H2O, conserving all C atoms while losing 2H and 1O to water.

Why the others are wrong:

• A: Ester retains all C atoms, not fewer.
• B: Ester retains all C atoms and loses 1O, not same O.
• D: Ester loses 2H and 1O, not same totals.

Final answer: C