Fischer Esterification Equilibrium

This simulator models the Fischer esterification of a carboxylic acid and an alcohol into an ester and water, RCOOH + R'OH ⇌ RCOOR' + H₂O, as a live population of reacting molecules in a 3D flask. Forward and reverse reaction events fire stochastically at rates set by the mass-action law and a fixed equilibrium constant, so the mixture visibly settles toward the point where the reaction quotient equals K_eq. Three independent levers — starting with excess alcohol, adding an acid catalyst, and simulating a Dean–Stark trap that continuously removes water — let you see which ones only speed up the approach to equilibrium and which one, per Le Chatelier's principle, actually shifts how much ester you end up with.