Esterification's the general name for a chemical reaction in which two reactants (typically an alcohol and an acid) form an ester as the reaction product. Esters are common in organic chemistry and biological materials, and often have a characteristic pleasant, fruity odor. This leads to their extensive use in the fragrance and flavor industry. Esterification's a reversible reaction. Hydrolysis—literally "water splitting"—involves adding water and a catalyst (commonly NaOH) to an est… (More on Esterification)