Saponification is the hydrolysis of a carboxylic acid ester in a basic medium. Saponification is essentially a soap-manufacturing process that takes place by reacting the fatty acid with alkali, especially triglycerides producing glycerol and carboxylate salts (soap).

NaOH+CH 3COO R→CH 3COO−¿Na+¿+R OH ¿ ¿

In this experiment, saponification of ethyl-acetate in the presence of sodium hydroxide was used to demonstrate the saponification reaction. When it comes to chemical kinetics, this reaction is a famous second order reaction identified in literature. (Reference 1&2 of pdf)