noun
- Plural of anhydride; chemical compounds formed by the removal of water from an acid or base, typically containing a central atom bonded to oxygen atoms.
Usage: chemistry; technical
Examples
- Sulfur trioxide is one of the most important industrial anhydrides.
- Acetic anhydrides are commonly used in organic synthesis reactions.
- The chemist prepared several anhydrides by heating the corresponding acids.
- Phosphorus pentoxide is an anhydride that readily absorbs moisture.
- Many anhydrides are highly reactive and must be stored carefully.