Fischer esterification

noun

The esterification of a carboxylic acid by heating it with an alcohol in the presence of a strong acid as the catalyst.

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Meanings

nounFischer esterification (countable and uncountable, plural Fischer esterifications)

plural Fischer esterifications

  1. countableuncountablechemistryThe esterification of a carboxylic acid by heating it with an alcohol in the presence of a strong acid as the catalyst.

Origin

Named for Emil Fischer, the chemist who first described this reaction.

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Cite this entry
APA

Fischer esterification. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Fischer%20esterification

MLA

“Fischer esterification.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Fischer%20esterification. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Fischer esterification,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Fischer%20esterification.

Source: Fischer esterification on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.