Soaps

Soaps are sodium or potassium salts of higher fatty acids like palmitic acid, stearic acid, lauric acid etc. Hence, sodium palmitate is a soap.

Step 1: Understanding saponification
Saponification is the process of making soap, which involves the hydrolysis of an ester in the presence of an alkali (usually sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide).
This reaction typically occurs with fats or oils, which are esters of fatty acids.
Step 2: Evaluate the options

• Option (1): Ester: This is the correct answer, as saponification specifically involves the hydrolysis of ester bonds.
• Option (2): Alcohol: Alcohols do not undergo saponification; they are not involved in the soap-making process.
• Option (3): Carboxylic acid: Carboxylic acids may be involved in ester formation, but they do not directly participate in saponification.
• Option (4): Alkane: Alkanes do not undergo saponification as they are saturated hydrocarbons.

Step 3: Conclusion
Saponification occurs with esters, as they react with alkali to form soap and alcohol.
Conclusion:

Saponification occurs with Esters.