acetic anhydride


noun Chemistry.

a colorless, pungent liquid, C4H6O3, the anhydride of acetic acid: used chiefly as a reagent and in the production of plastics, film, and fabrics derived from cellulose.

Origin of acetic anhydride

First recorded in 1875–80

Words nearby acetic anhydride

British Dictionary definitions for acetic anhydride

acetic anhydride

noun

a colourless pungent liquid used in the manufacture of cellulose and vinyl acetates for synthetic fabrics. Formula: (CH 3 CO) 2 O