Base anhydride


A base anhydride is an oxide of a chemical element from group 1 or 2. They are obtained by removing water from the corresponding hydroxide base. If water is added to a base anhydride, a corresponding hydroxide salt can be re-formed.
Base anhydrides are not Brønsted–Lowry bases because they are not proton acceptors. However, they are Lewis bases, because they will share an electron pair with some Lewis acids, most notably acidic oxides. They are potent alkalis and will produce alkali burns on skin, because their affinity for water makes them react with body water. For example, quicklime reacts with skin to become hydrated lime, which is a strong base, chemically akin to lye.

Examples

Group 1 oxides
Group 2 oxides
Other