Carboxylic acids and esters are one of the most important classes of organic compounds. They are everywhere: * in food (citric acid; vinegar = a solution of acetic acid); * in medicines (aspirin = acetylsalicylic acid); * in fats (triglycerides are esters of fatty acids and glycerol); * in plastics (polyesters); * in biochemistry (transformation of pyruvate through the citric acid cycle); * and e…