One of the oldest chemical reactions known to man is the saponification reaction. All the carboxylic derivatives under go this type of reaction, but it is most commonly used for esters. Esters are mixed with aqueous solutions of alkali (inthe lab we use sodium or potassium hydroxide) to give carboxylate salts and alcohols. Neutralization on workup gives the freeacid and the alcohol. in its historical from wood ashes wereleached with water to give a solution of sodium and potassium carbonate (alkaline). When animal fats were mixed with hotsolutions of this leachate the fats dissolved to produce solutions of carboxylate salts and glycerine---soap. Fats are esters oflong chain carboxylic acids, C12-C18 esterified with glycerine(1,2,3-propanetriol) and are known as triglycerides. The fatty acids are usually always referred to by their common names. Write the reaction that occurs when glyceryl tripalmitate (a triglyceride of palmitic acid) is treated with an aqueous solution of carbonate anion.