Final answer:
An esterification reaction is the reaction between an organic acid and an alcohol, resulting in the formation of an ester.
Step-by-step explanation:
An esterification reaction is the reaction between an organic acid (represented as R-COOH) and an alcohol (represented as R'-OH), resulting in the formation of an ester. During this reaction, the -OH group of the acid combines with the -H group of the alcohol, resulting in the formation of water as a by-product. The remaining components, the alkyl side of the acid (R) and the alkyl side of the alcohol (R'), combine to form the ester.