Esters react in the presence of an acid or a base to give back alcohol and carboxylic acid. This reaction is used in the manufacture of soaps and is known as saponification. Soap is nothing but the sodium salt of the carboxylate.
CH3COOC2H5 ---(NaOH)--> CH3COOH + C2H5OH
Ester (ethyl ethanoate) --Base (sodium hydroxide)--> Carboxylic Acid (ethanoic acid) + Alcohol (ethanol)
CH3COOH + NaOH -----> CH3COONa + H2O
Carboxylic Acid (Ethanoic Acid) + Base (Sodium Hydroxide) -----> Soap (Sodium ethanoate / acetate) + Water
CH3COONa is the soap.
