Definition: A dehydration reaction is a chemical reaction between two compounds where one of the products is water or ammonia.
Also Known As: condensation reaction
Examples:
Reactions that produce acid anhydrides are dehydration reactions.
For example: acetic acid (CH3COOH) forms acetic anhydride ((CH3CO)2O) and water by the dehydration reaction2 CH3COOH → (CH3CO)2O + H2O
Dehydration reactions are also involved in the production of many polymers.
