Medical polymers carboxylic acids

Esters are derived from carboxylic acids by reaction with alcohols. They have a wide variety of applications ranging from flavouring agents to solvents and explosives. One of the most used painkillers in medication, aspirin, is an ester, while a major class of polymers are the poly(esters). Fats and vegetable oils are naturally occurring esters and the alkaline hydrolysis of such esters (saponification) is used to produce soaps. 

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