anhydride

[ an-hahy-drahyd, -drid ]

noun

, Chemistry.

1. a compound formed by removing water from a more complex compound: an oxide of a nonmetal acid anhydride or a metal basic anhydride that forms an acid or a base, respectively, when united with water.
2. a compound from which water has been abstracted.

anhydride

/ ænˈhaɪdraɪd; -drɪd /

noun

1. a compound that has been formed from another compound by dehydration
2. a compound that forms an acid or base when added to water
3. Also calledacid anhydrideacyl anhydride any organic compound containing the group -CO.O.CO- formed by removal of one water molecule from two carboxyl groups

anhydride

/ ăn-hī′drīd′ /

1. A chemical compound formed from another, especially an acid, by the removal of water.

Word History and Origins

Origin of anhydride¹

1860–65; anhydr(ous) + -ide ( def )

Word History and Origins

Origin of anhydride¹

C19: from anhydr ( ous ) + -ide

Example Sentences

These previously uncharacterized acid sulfuric anhydride products are almost certainly key contributors to atmospheric new particle formation and a way to efficiently incorporate carboxylic acids into atmospheric nanoparticles.

From Science Daily

The connection can be made because compounds known as anhydrides and esters serve as electronically favourable dienophiles in Diels–Alder reactions, and can then be converted into acids to take part in various RCC reactions.

From Nature

Gradually, water vapour from the air hydrolysed the polymer’s anhydride groups, causing decomposition of the film.

From Scientific American

In the old chemistry the name acid was applied to the oxides of the negative or nonmetallic elements, now sometimes called anhydrides.

From Project Gutenberg

By long heating the acid is converted into its anhydride, which, however, is obtained more readily by heating the silver salt of the acid with acetyl chloride.

From Project Gutenberg