AIIMS 2019 Chemistry Ester Hydrolysis MCQ Question

The reaction between acetyl chloride (CH₃COCl) and ethanol (CH₃CH₂OH) in the presence of concentrated sodium hydroxide (NaOH) leads to the formation of sodium acetate (CH₃CO₂Na) and methanol (CH₃OH) through a nucleophilic substitution mechanism. The NaOH acts as a base, facilitating the deprotonation of ethanol and allowing it to attack the carbonyl carbon of acetyl chloride, resulting in the formation of the carboxylate salt and methanol.

Option B is incorrect because it suggests that the reactants remain unchanged, while option C incorrectly implies the formation of formate salts, which do not arise from the given reactants. Option D also misrepresents the products by including formate salts instead of acetate.