How can you determine anhydrides of acids and bases?

1 Answer
anor277
Mar 30, 2017

Well, the #"acid anhydride"# is simply two equiv of the parent acid LESS a water molecule...........

Explanation:

And so acetic anhydride is the anhydride of 2 equiv of acetic acid:

#"2H"_3"CC(=O)(OH)"rarr"H"_3"CC(=O)(O)C(=O)(CH"_3) + "H"_2"O"#

And the #"base anhydride"# is an older term that is used in inorganic chemistry; i.e. it refers to 2 equiv of the hydroxide LESS water:

#2NaOH rarr Na_2O + H_2O#

#"Natrium oxide"# is the base anhydride of #"sodium hydroxide"#.

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