Organic reactions in industry – what does esterification produce? Esterification (reaction of an acid with an alcohol) is industrially used to make which of the following product classes?

Introduction / Context:
Esterification is a core organic reaction forming esters from acids and alcohols. In the chemical process industries, many surfactants and specialty chemicals are esters. Distinguishing esterification from saponification, hydrogenation, or thiolation avoids common mix-ups in exam questions.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Esterification: acid + alcohol → ester + water (often acid-catalyzed).
• Industrial detergents can include nonionic types that are fatty acid or fatty alcohol esters (e.g., fatty acid esters of polyols or ethoxylates), made via esterification or transesterification.
• Soap is produced by saponification (base-catalyzed hydrolysis of esters), not by esterification.

Concept / Approach:
Among the listed choices, detergents encompass classes (notably nonionic types) that are prepared through esterification of fatty acids and polyhydric alcohols or ethoxylated alcohols. Vanaspati (hydrogenated vegetable oil) arises from catalytic hydrogenation, soaps from base hydrolysis of triglyceride esters, and mercaptans (thiols) are formed via thiolation routes, not esterification.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:
Surfactant manufacturing literature documents fatty acid esters (e.g., sorbitan esters, glycerol esters) used as detergents/emulsifiers, confirming the esterification route.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Vanaspati: Produced by hydrogenating edible oils; no esterification step dominates.
• Soap: Produced by saponification (ester hydrolysis), essentially the reverse of esterification.
• Mercaptans: Prepared by reactions introducing –SH; not via ester formation.

Common Pitfalls:
Confusing soap manufacture (saponification) with esterification. Remember: saponification breaks esters; esterification creates them. Many detergents are not esters (e.g., sulfonates), but esters are used for certain detergent/surfactant types, making ‘‘detergent’’ the best fit among the options.

Final Answer:
detergent