Why is the ester hydrolysis slow in the beginning and becomes faster after some time?


Ester hydrolysis is represented as:


Ester + Water Acid + Alcohol


In this reaction the acid produced which is a product also acts as a catalyst and makes the reaction faster.


Such substances that act as catalysts in the same reaction in which they are obtained as products are known as Autocatalysts.


So, ester hydrolysis is slow in the beginning and becomes faster after some time as more acid is produced on the product side.


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