Final answer:
The hydrolysis reaction used to generate soap in the presence of a hydroxide is known as saponification, which turns fats or oils into soap and glycerol.
Step-by-step explanation:
The hydroxide-promoted hydrolysis reaction used to generate soap is called saponification. This process involves the base-catalyzed conversion of fats or oils, which are triglycerides (tri-esters of glycerol and fatty acids), into soap and glycerol. When fats undergo saponification in the presence of a strong base like sodium hydroxide (NaOH) or potassium hydroxide (KOH), the result is the production of sodium salts of fatty acids (soaps) and glycerol.
The reaction of esterification is different from saponification; it is a condensation reaction where an ester is formed from an alcohol and a carboxylic acid. Saponification specifically refers to the alkaline hydrolysis of esters that leads to the production of soap molecules, such as sodium stearate from the hydrolysis of ethyl stearate.
Therefore, the correct answer to the question, 'Hydroxide-promoted hydrolysis reaction used to generate soap,' is B) Saponification.