Alcohol, Protons, and Ester Formation

Name: Hira
Status: student
Grade: 9-12
Location: N/A

Question: Normally acids donate protons, as said by arrhenius
theory, then why do alcohols donate proton in process of ester formation? 
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Hira,

The reaction is best visualized as beginning the oxygen of the alcohol 
attaching to the carbonyl carbon of the carboxylic acid. The -OH of the 
carboxylic acid then combines with the -H of the alcohol to form water. 
As such, the reaction is not generally thought of as an acid-base 
reaction since the -H of the alcohol does not ionize and attack the 
carboxylic acid.

Greg (Roberto Gregorius)
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