Fischer Esterifications generally take the following form:
General Mechanism: The first step involves protonation of the carbonyl oxygen, followed by the nucleophillic attack of the alcohol, finished off with the loss of a proton. Again protonation of one of the alcohols, followed by loss of water occurs. Electrons from the oxygen come down to form the double bond. Loss of a proton yields the ester.
Example of a Fischer Esterification: Addition of methanol to acetic acid
