<P> A common kind of hydrolysis occurs when a salt of a weak acid or weak base (or both) is dissolved in water . Water spontaneously ionizes into hydroxide anions and hydronium cations . The salt also dissociates into its constituent anions and cations . For example, sodium acetate dissociates in water into sodium and acetate ions . Sodium ions react very little with the hydroxide ions whereas the acetate ions combine with hydronium ions to produce acetic acid . In this case the net result is a relative excess of hydroxide ions, yielding a basic solution . </P> <P> Strong acids also undergo hydrolysis . For example, dissolving sulfuric acid (H SO) in water is accompanied by hydrolysis to give hydronium and bisulfate, the sulfuric acid's conjugate base . For a more technical discussion of what occurs during such a hydrolysis, see Brønsted--Lowry acid--base theory . </P> <P> Acid--base - catalysed hydrolyses are very common; one example is the hydrolysis of amides or esters . Their hydrolysis occurs when the nucleophile (a nucleus - seeking agent, e.g., water or hydroxyl ion) attacks the carbon of the carbonyl group of the ester or amide . In an aqueous base, hydroxyl ions are better nucleophiles than polar molecules such as water . In acids, the carbonyl group becomes protonated, and this leads to a much easier nucleophilic attack . The products for both hydrolyses are compounds with carboxylic acid groups . </P> <P> Perhaps the oldest commercially practiced example of ester hydrolysis is saponification (formation of soap). It is the hydrolysis of a triglyceride (fat) with an aqueous base such as sodium hydroxide (NaOH). During the process, glycerol is formed, and the fatty acids react with the base, converting them to salts . These salts are called soaps, commonly used in households . </P>

What kind of conditions can produce hydrolysis of an ester
find me the text answering this question