Salih, Seth Sanchez, Maria Louise Sarao, Patrick BIOORG2 NO1 Anhydrides

June 13, 2013

Anhydrides are chemical compounds obtained by removing water from another substance. They are a group of chemicals with molecules that include and Oxygen atom bonded to two acyl groups. Acid anhydrides are formed from the removal of water from an acid. Similarly, base anhydrides are formed from the removal of water from a base, such as calcium oxide. The general formula of anhydrides is:

Common examples of anhydrides are acetic anhydride (CH 3CO)2O, formic anhydride C2H2O3, and propanoic anhydride C6H10O3. In naming anhydrides, take the name of the parent acid or base and change it to anhydride. For example, ethanoic acid forms ethanoic anhydride or acetic anhydride, and propanoic acid becomes propanoic anhydride.

Due to the differing nature of the carbon chains attached to the Oxygen atom, the properties of anhydrides vary. To make things easier, the group member chose ethanoic anhydride as the example. Anhydrides are usually colorless liquids with certain odors. However, some anhydrides are solid at room temperature, in the form of pellets They cannot dissolve in water as this will revert them to their original forms: acids or

bases, since water was originally removed from them. Their relatively high boiling points are due to the dipole-dipole interactions. Despite this, they cannot form hydrogen bonds.

In reacting to different reagents, the mechanism is fairly similar. The functional group of anhydrides is an Oxygen atom bonded to two Carbon chains. When these substances react with water, alcohols, and phenols, the common result is the formation of the parent acid or base. Aside from this, the functional groups of the reagents bond to the oxygen atom of the anhydride.

As with most chemicals, anhydrides also have certain applications in some fields. Several acid anhydrides are used in modern industry. Acetic anhydride is commonly used as a reagent for reactions involving certain organic compounds and is involved in the production of aspirin and cellulose acetate, which is used as a synthetic fiber and as a substrate, or base, for the photosensitive chemicals in photographic film. Another example is maleic anhydride (C2H2(CO)2O), which is used in the production of the polyester resins in molding compounds and toner for laser printers and photocopiers.

Sources: http://global.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/25412/anhydride http://www.ivy-rose.co.uk/Chemistry/Organic/Naming-Acid-Anhydrides.php http://www.chemguide.co.uk/organicprops/anhydrides/background.html http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-an-acidanhydride.htmhttp://www.chemguide.co.uk/organicprops/anhydrides/oxygen.html