Ester hydrolysis by aqueous NaOH

Steps:

• Identify compound X as an ester based on its structure.
• Recognize that heating esters with NaOH(aq) causes saponification.
• Break the ester bond to form a carboxylate ion and an alcohol.
• The carboxylate reacts with Na+ to yield the sodium carboxylate salt.

Why C is correct:

• C depicts the sodium carboxylate salt, the standard product from ester saponification per the reaction RCOOR' + NaOH → RCOONa + R'OH.

Why the others are wrong:

• A shows the free carboxylic acid, which requires acidification, not just NaOH.
• B shows only the alcohol product, ignoring the carboxylate.
• D shows an unchanged or different compound, not accounting for hydrolysis.

Final answer: C