Explain the action of acetic anhydride on ethanol.

Explanation

To explain the action of acetic anhydride on ethanol, we can break down the process into several steps:

### Step 1: Understanding the Reactants
- **Ethanol (C2H5OH)**: This is a simple alcohol with the formula C2H5OH. It has a hydroxyl (-OH) group that can react with acetic anhydride.
- **Acetic Anhydride (C4H6O3)**: This is an anhydride of acetic acid, represented as (CH3CO)2O. It is a reactive compound that can introduce an acyl group into other molecules.

### Step 2: Reaction Mechanism
1. **Protonation of Acetic Anhydride**: In the presence of an acid (H+), the carbonyl oxygen of acetic anhydride can be protonated, increasing its electrophilicity.
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