Saponification is a chemical reaction a. due to the presence of a strong organic acid. b. that results in an alcohol and a carboxylic acid. c. that explains why soap does not wash off easily in hard water. d. that always results directly in a soap.

that results in an alcohol and a carboxylic acid.

Explanation:

Saponification is a chemical reaction process of alkaline hydrolysis of esters(R'COOR group) by which soap is obtained.

For Example, when a base such as sodium hydroxide [NaOH]  is used to hydrolyze an ester, the products are a carboxylate salt and an alcohol. Because soaps are prepared by the alkaline hydrolysis of fats and oils.

In a saponification reaction, alkaline hydrolysis of fats and oils with sodium hydroxide  yields propane-1,2,3-triol and the corresponding sodium salts of the component fatty acids.

i.e  Fat or oil + caustic alkali ⇒ Soap + propane-1,2,3-triol

As a specific example, ethyl acetate and NaOH react to form sodium acetate and ethanol:

The reaction goes to completion in the image below:

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