SQA advanced higher, so equivalent to second year of a level
Okay! I'd say the NaOH and HCl react to form NaCl and, importantly, H2O. It is the H2O that then reacts with the ester, breaking it up into a carboxylic acid and an alcohol. try that. Ester + water -> alcohol + carboxylic acid.
Then try to incorporate the NaOH and HCl, remembering that the water produced has been used up in the alcohol and carboxylic acid. So you won't need to write H2O on the right hand side.
Okay! I'd say the NaOH and HCl react to form NaCl and, importantly, H2O. It is the H2O that then reacts with the ester, breaking it up into a carboxylic acid and an alcohol. try that. Ester + water -> alcohol + carboxylic acid.