Write the mechanism for the acid catalyzed hydrolysis of methyl benzoate

Hydrolysis of Methyl Benzoate yields Benzoic Acid and Methanol. This reaction is also called as Tranesterification (reverse of esterification). Acid in this reaction protonates the carbonyl oxygen, resulting in increasing electrophillic character of carbonyl carbon. Water acts as a nucleophile and methoxide leaves as a good leaving group. Mechanism is shown below,

While unproven, it uses facts to support part of a conclusion. it is still factual and has predictive power, however.

The answer is solid copper