anhydride Definition
a compound formed by removing water from a more complex compound.
Using anhydride: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "anhydride" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
Carbon dioxide is an anhydride of carbonic acid.
Example
Sulfur trioxide is an anhydride of sulfuric acid.
Example
Acetic anhydride is an anhydride of acetic acid.
Phrases with anhydride
a type of anhydride that is formed by the reaction of two different carboxylic acids
Example
The mixed anhydride of acetic and benzoic acids is used in peptide synthesis.
a type of anhydride that is formed by the removal of water from two molecules of the same carboxylic acid
Example
Acetic anhydride is an acid anhydride of acetic acid.
Origins of anhydride
from Greek 'an-' meaning 'without' and 'hudōr' meaning 'water'
Summary: anhydride in Brief
An 'anhydride' [anˈhʌɪdraɪd] is a compound formed by removing water from a more complex compound. It is commonly used in chemistry to describe the product of a reaction between two carboxylic acids, such as 'acetic anhydride.' Other types of anhydrides include 'mixed anhydrides,' which are formed by the reaction of two different carboxylic acids, and 'acid anhydrides,' which are formed by the removal of water from two molecules of the same carboxylic acid.
