How does an anhydride differ from an acid?

1 Answer
Nov 28, 2015

acid is formed when water is added to an anhydride

Explanation:

when you add water into anhydrides, the relative acids are formed. for example, take SO_3, when you add water it forms H_2SO_4 which is the hydride or simply the acid. notice that the oxidation state has not changed even though the anhydride has turned into it's acid.

some more examples for addition of water into anhydrides

SO_2 + H_2O rarr H_2SO_3
CO_2 + H_2O rarr H_2CO_3
N_2O_5 + H_2O rarr HNO_3
P_2O_5 + H_2O rarr H_3PO_4

so basically anhydride is the state without water, while the acid is the state with water in it.