Anhydrides

Anhydrides are chemical compounds derived from acids by removing water molecules. Think of them as the "relatives" of acids, formed when acids lose their water, making them more reactive. In practical terms, they are often used in making medicines, plastics, and chemicals because they can easily react with other substances to form new compounds. Anhydrides are typically more reactive than their parent acids, which makes them useful in industrial processes. Some common examples include acetic anhydride and phthalic anhydride, which play important roles in chemical manufacturing.