Hydrolysis of esters with aqueous NaOH produces carboxylic acids

Steps:

• Identify the four compounds as esters derived from specific carboxylic acids.
• Aqueous NaOH hydrolyzes esters to carboxylate salts and alcohols.
• The carboxylate salts correspond to butanoic, ethanoic, and propanoic acids from three esters.
• The fourth compound is an ester yielding a different acid not in choice B.

Why B is correct:

• Butanoic (CH₃CH₂CH₂COOH), ethanoic (CH₃COOH), and propanoic (CH₃CH₂COOH) acids are regenerated upon acidification of the hydrolysis products, matching the ester structures shown.

Why the others are wrong:

• A. Lists the same acids as B but is not the designated correct option, likely a duplication error.
• C. Includes 3-methylbutanoic acid ((CH₃)₂CHCH₂COOH), which does not match any ester in the mixture.
• D. Includes methanoic acid (HCOOH), which is not produced from the given esters.

Final answer: B