What is the Difference Between Acid Anhydride and Basic Anhydride?

Acid anhydrides and basic anhydrides are chemical compounds formed by the removal of water from a parent compound, but they differ in their reactivity with water and their acidity or basicity.

Acid Anhydrides:

• Acid anhydrides are nonmetal oxides that react with water to form acids.
• They are formed from the removal of water from an acid.
• Examples of acid anhydrides include carbon dioxide (CO2) and sulfur dioxide (SO2).

Basic Anhydrides:

• Basic anhydrides are metal oxides that react with water to form bases.
• They are formed from the removal of water from a base.
• Examples of basic anhydrides include sodium oxide (Na2O) and calcium oxide (CaO).

In summary, the main difference between acid anhydrides and basic anhydrides lies in their reactivity with water and their acidic or basic characteristics. Acid anhydrides are nonmetal oxides that form acids when reacted with water, while basic anhydrides are metal oxides that form bases when reacted with water.

Comparative Table: Acid Anhydride vs Basic Anhydride

Here is a table comparing acid anhydrides and basic anhydrides:

Acid anhydrides are compounds that turn into an acid when you add water, and they are formed from non-metal oxides. Examples of acid anhydrides include carbon dioxide (CO2), which forms carbonic acid when reacted with water, and sulfur dioxide (SO2), which forms sulfurous acid when reacted with water.

Basic anhydrides, on the other hand, are formed from metal oxides, typically from the alkali or alkaline earth metal groups. When reacted with water, these anhydrides form bases. Examples of basic anhydrides include sodium oxide (Na2O) and magnesium oxide (MgO).