Alkaline Ester Hydrolysis Reaction In an ester hydrolysis reaction using a dilute base what is the pH change before and after the reaction occurs. In this reaction I want to react methyl ethanoate with dilute sodium hydroxide. I want to know if the pH of the solution will change after I add the ester to the base.
If it doesn't, is there a reaction I can do with esters that will result in a pH change?
Alkaline hydrolysis of ester:


  $\ce{RCOOR' + OH- -&gt; RCOO- + R'OH}$


Almost all organic acids are weak acids:


  $\ce{RCOO- + H2O &lt;&lt;=&gt; RCOOH + OH-}$


Therefore, a lot of $\ce{OH-}$ is consumed during the esterification, with the product $\ce{RCOO-}$ generating little $\ce{OH-}$.

There is a net consumption of $\ce{OH-}$, making the solution more acidic, lowering the pH.