What type of reaction occurs when an alcohol reacts with a carboxylic acid?

When an alcohol reacts with a carboxylic acid, the process that takes place is known as a condensation reaction. During this type of reaction, the alcohol and the carboxylic acid combine to form an ester and water. Specifically, the hydroxyl group (-OH) from the carboxylic acid and a hydrogen atom (-H) from the alcohol are removed to produce water as a byproduct. The remaining parts of the reactants then bond together to form the ester functional group.

This reaction is significant in organic chemistry because it is a common method for synthesizing esters, which are important compounds used in fragrances, flavorings, and in various chemical processes. Condensation reactions are characterized by the loss of a small molecule—often water—when two larger molecules are combined.

The other types of reactions listed—oxidation, reduction, and hydrolysis—do not properly describe the interaction between an alcohol and a carboxylic acid in this scenario. Oxidation involves the loss of electrons or an increase in oxidation state, reduction involves a gain of electrons or a decrease in oxidation state, and hydrolysis typically refers to the reaction with water, often breaking larger molecules into smaller ones. None of these processes align with the formation