  Interstellar hydrides -- that is, molecules containing a single heavy element
atom with one or more hydrogen atoms -- were among the first molecules detected
outside the solar system. They lie at the root of interstellar chemistry, being
among the first species to form in initially-atomic gas, along with molecular
hydrogen and its associated ions. Because the chemical pathways leading to the
formation of interstellar hydrides are relatively simple, the analysis of the
observed abundances is relatively straightforward and provides key information
about the environments where hydrides are found. Recent years have seen rapid
progress in our understanding of interstellar hydrides, thanks largely to
far-IR and submillimeter observations performed with the Herschel Space
Observatory. In this review, we will discuss observations of interstellar
hydrides, along with the advanced modeling approaches that have been used to
interpret them, and the unique information that has thereby been obtained.
