Anhidrázt

Anhidrázt is a term used in chemistry to describe a compound that has lost its water of crystallization. This can occur when a hydrated salt is heated, causing the water molecules to evaporate. For example, copper sulfate pentahydrate (CuSO4·5H2O) is a blue crystalline solid. When heated, it loses its five water molecules to form anhydrous copper sulfate (CuSO4), which is a white powder. This process is often reversible, meaning that anhydrous salts can reabsorb water from the atmosphere to become hydrated again. This property makes some anhydrous compounds useful as drying agents. Examples include anhydrous calcium chloride and anhydrous sodium sulfate. Anhidrázt compounds are also important in certain chemical reactions and industrial processes where the presence of water would be detrimental. The term itself is derived from Greek, with "an-" meaning "without" and "hydor" meaning "water."