Menu
Home
People
Places
Arts
History
Plants & Animals
Science
Life & Culture
Technology
Reference.org
Acetic anhydride
open-in-new
<p>Acetic anhydride, or ethanoic anhydride, is the <a href="/facts/Chemical_compound/37FXqqtv">chemical compound</a> with the <a href="/facts/Chemical_formula/hghUtthl">formula</a> (CH3CO)2O. Commonly abbreviated <a href="/facts/Acetyl/rRmtXdn3">Ac</a>2O, it is the simplest isolable <a href="/facts/Organic_acid_anhydride/9YnWCsJo">anhydride</a> of a <a href="/facts/Carboxylic_acid/U4xuMosy">carboxylic acid</a> and is widely used as a <a href="/facts/Reagent/c3GLInCu">reagent</a> in <a href="/facts/Organic_synthesis/aprl6Iq7">organic synthesis</a>. It is a colorless liquid that smells strongly of <a href="/facts/Acetic_acid/uyBKA2Pd">acetic acid</a>, which is formed by its reaction with moisture in the air. </p>