Which process involves the reaction of an ester with water to yield a carboxylic acid and an alcohol?

Ester hydrolysis is the process in which an ester reacts with water to produce a carboxylic acid and an alcohol. In this reaction, the ester undergoes cleavage through the addition of water. The nucleophilic attack by water molecules forms the carboxylic acid, while the other part of the ester becomes an alcohol. This reaction can occur under acidic or basic conditions, making it a common method in organic chemistry for converting esters into more functionalized compounds.

This process is a fundamental reaction in organic chemistry, illustrating how functional groups can be interconverted and how esters can be transformed into more reactive species, such as carboxylic acids and alcohols. The specificity of this reaction is reflected in its name, ester hydrolysis, underscoring the essential role that water plays in the mechanism. Understanding this reaction is crucial for applications in synthesis, biochemistry, and various industrial processes.

Other options presented in the question involve different chemical reactions altogether. Amide hydrolysis pertains to the breakdown of amides, aromatic hydroxylation deals with the addition of hydroxyl groups to aromatic compounds, and desulfuration refers to the removal of sulfur from compounds, none of which describe the interaction of esters with water.