Hi. I'm trying to learn the basics of chemistry/organic chemistry. I wish to take methyl salicylate from a wintergreen shrub, put it in a lye + water solution, heat, acidify, separate freebase from methanol. I'm basically trying to plant medicinal plants that grow in my area, both for fun & experimentation as well as emergency supplies.
I understand this process to a basic level and I am fairly sure I could do it safely given the potential for danger here.
However, I do not understand what is going on at the... molecular level, essentially. Why does the ester turn into a salt, then into an acid?