Difference between revisions of "Desiccant"
From Sciencemadness Wiki
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| Line 37: | Line 37: | ||
| style="text-align: center;"| High | | style="text-align: center;"| High | ||
| style="text-align: center;"| Yes | | style="text-align: center;"| Yes | ||
| − | | Can also be used to | + | | Can also be used to adsorb fluorides |
|- | |- | ||
| Activated charcoal | | Activated charcoal | ||
| Line 44: | Line 44: | ||
| style="text-align: center;"| Medium | | style="text-align: center;"| Medium | ||
| style="text-align: center;"| Yes | | style="text-align: center;"| Yes | ||
| − | | Will also | + | | Will also adsorb other gasses |
|- | |- | ||
| Aerogel | | Aerogel | ||
| Line 72: | Line 72: | ||
| style="text-align: center;"| | | style="text-align: center;"| | ||
| style="text-align: center;"| | | style="text-align: center;"| | ||
| − | | | + | | Often used in combination with sodium or potassium |
|- | |- | ||
| [[Cadmium nitrate]] | | [[Cadmium nitrate]] | ||
| Line 95: | Line 95: | ||
| Deliquescent; often used in drying tubes | | Deliquescent; often used in drying tubes | ||
|- | |- | ||
| − | |[[Calcium hydride]] | + | | [[Calcium hydride]] |
| style="text-align: center;"| | | style="text-align: center;"| | ||
| style="text-align: center;"|High | | style="text-align: center;"|High | ||
| Line 102: | Line 102: | ||
| | | | ||
|- | |- | ||
| − | |[[Calcium nitrate]] | + | | [[Calcium nitrate]] |
| style="text-align: center;"|Neutral | | style="text-align: center;"|Neutral | ||
| style="text-align: center;"|Medium | | style="text-align: center;"|Medium | ||
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| | | | ||
|- | |- | ||
| − | |[[Calcium oxide]] | + | | [[Calcium oxide]] |
| style="text-align: center;"| | | style="text-align: center;"| | ||
| style="text-align: center;"|High | | style="text-align: center;"|High | ||
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| | | | ||
|- | |- | ||
| − | |[[Calcium sulfate]] | + | | [[Calcium sulfate]] |
| style="text-align: center;"|Neutral | | style="text-align: center;"|Neutral | ||
| style="text-align: center;"|Low | | style="text-align: center;"|Low | ||
| style="text-align: center;"|High | | style="text-align: center;"|High | ||
| style="text-align: center;"|Yes | | style="text-align: center;"|Yes | ||
| − | |Very fast and efficient drying agent, but a lot of drying agent might be necessary | + | | Very fast and efficient drying agent, but a lot of drying agent might be necessary |
|- | |- | ||
| − | |Cement (Portland) | + | | Cement (Portland) |
| style="text-align: center;"|Alkaline | | style="text-align: center;"|Alkaline | ||
| style="text-align: center;"|Medium | | style="text-align: center;"|Medium | ||
| style="text-align: center;"|Medium | | style="text-align: center;"|Medium | ||
| style="text-align: center;"|No | | style="text-align: center;"|No | ||
| − | |Used in | + | | Used in desiccators, cannot be used directly |
|- | |- | ||
| − | |[[Cerium(III) chloride]] | + | | [[Cerium(III) chloride]] |
| style="text-align: center;"| | | style="text-align: center;"| | ||
| style="text-align: center;"| | | style="text-align: center;"| | ||
| Line 137: | Line 137: | ||
| | | | ||
|- | |- | ||
| − | |[[Cerium(III) nitrate]] | + | | [[Cerium(III) nitrate]] |
| style="text-align: center;"| | | style="text-align: center;"| | ||
| style="text-align: center;"| | | style="text-align: center;"| | ||
| Line 144: | Line 144: | ||
| | | | ||
|- | |- | ||
| − | |[[Cesium]] | + | | [[Cesium]] |
| style="text-align: center;"| | | style="text-align: center;"| | ||
| style="text-align: center;"| | | style="text-align: center;"| | ||
| style="text-align: center;"| | | style="text-align: center;"| | ||
| style="text-align: center;"|No | | style="text-align: center;"|No | ||
| − | |Expensive; reaction with water is highly explosive | + | | Expensive; reaction with water is highly explosive |
|- | |- | ||
| − | |[[Cobalt(II) chloride]] | + | | [[Cobalt(II) chloride]] |
| style="text-align: center;"| | | style="text-align: center;"| | ||
| style="text-align: center;"| | | style="text-align: center;"| | ||
| style="text-align: center;"| | | style="text-align: center;"| | ||
| style="text-align: center;"|Yes | | style="text-align: center;"|Yes | ||
| − | |Mostly used as water indicator | + | | Mostly used as water indicator |
|- | |- | ||
| − | |[[Copper(II) sulfate]] | + | | [[Copper(II) sulfate]] |
| style="text-align: center;"|Neutral | | style="text-align: center;"|Neutral | ||
| style="text-align: center;"|Low | | style="text-align: center;"|Low | ||
| style="text-align: center;"|Medium | | style="text-align: center;"|Medium | ||
| style="text-align: center;"|Yes | | style="text-align: center;"|Yes | ||
| − | |Mostly used as water indicator | + | | Mostly used as water indicator |
|- | |- | ||
| − | |[[Dysprosium(III) chloride]] | + | | [[Dysprosium(III) chloride]] |
| style="text-align: center;"| | | style="text-align: center;"| | ||
| style="text-align: center;"| | | style="text-align: center;"| | ||
| Line 172: | Line 172: | ||
| | | | ||
|- | |- | ||
| − | |[[Dysprosium(III) nitrate]] | + | | [[Dysprosium(III) nitrate]] |
| style="text-align: center;"| | | style="text-align: center;"| | ||
| style="text-align: center;"| | | style="text-align: center;"| | ||
| Line 179: | Line 179: | ||
| | | | ||
|- | |- | ||
| − | |[[Erbium(III) chloride]] | + | | [[Erbium(III) chloride]] |
| style="text-align: center;"| | | style="text-align: center;"| | ||
| style="text-align: center;"| | | style="text-align: center;"| | ||
| Line 186: | Line 186: | ||
| | | | ||
|- | |- | ||
| − | |[[Erbium(III) nitrate]] | + | | [[Erbium(III) nitrate]] |
| style="text-align: center;"| | | style="text-align: center;"| | ||
| style="text-align: center;"| | | style="text-align: center;"| | ||
| Line 193: | Line 193: | ||
| | | | ||
|- | |- | ||
| − | |[[Europium(III) chloride]] | + | | [[Europium(III) chloride]] |
| style="text-align: center;"| | | style="text-align: center;"| | ||
| style="text-align: center;"| | | style="text-align: center;"| | ||
| Line 200: | Line 200: | ||
| | | | ||
|- | |- | ||
| − | |[[Europium(III) nitrate]] | + | | [[Europium(III) nitrate]] |
| style="text-align: center;"| | | style="text-align: center;"| | ||
| style="text-align: center;"| | | style="text-align: center;"| | ||
| Line 207: | Line 207: | ||
| | | | ||
|- | |- | ||
| − | |[[Gadolinium(III) chloride]] | + | | [[Gadolinium(III) chloride]] |
| style="text-align: center;"| | | style="text-align: center;"| | ||
| style="text-align: center;"| | | style="text-align: center;"| | ||
| Line 214: | Line 214: | ||
| | | | ||
|- | |- | ||
| − | |[[Gadolinium(III) nitrate]] | + | | [[Gadolinium(III) nitrate]] |
| style="text-align: center;"| | | style="text-align: center;"| | ||
| style="text-align: center;"| | | style="text-align: center;"| | ||
| Line 221: | Line 221: | ||
| | | | ||
|- | |- | ||
| − | |[[Holmium(III) chloride]] | + | | [[Holmium(III) chloride]] |
| style="text-align: center;"| | | style="text-align: center;"| | ||
| style="text-align: center;"| | | style="text-align: center;"| | ||
| Line 228: | Line 228: | ||
| | | | ||
|- | |- | ||
| − | |[[Holmium(III) nitrate]] | + | | [[Holmium(III) nitrate]] |
| style="text-align: center;"| | | style="text-align: center;"| | ||
| style="text-align: center;"| | | style="text-align: center;"| | ||
| Line 235: | Line 235: | ||
| | | | ||
|- | |- | ||
| − | |[[Lanthanum(III) chloride]] | + | | [[Lanthanum(III) chloride]] |
| style="text-align: center;"| | | style="text-align: center;"| | ||
| style="text-align: center;"| | | style="text-align: center;"| | ||
| Line 242: | Line 242: | ||
| | | | ||
|- | |- | ||
| − | |[[Lanthanum(III) nitrate]] | + | | [[Lanthanum(III) nitrate]] |
| style="text-align: center;"| | | style="text-align: center;"| | ||
| style="text-align: center;"| | | style="text-align: center;"| | ||
| Line 249: | Line 249: | ||
| | | | ||
|- | |- | ||
| − | |[[Lithium]] | + | | [[Lithium]] |
| style="text-align: center;"| | | style="text-align: center;"| | ||
| style="text-align: center;"|High | | style="text-align: center;"|High | ||
| style="text-align: center;"|High | | style="text-align: center;"|High | ||
| style="text-align: center;"|No | | style="text-align: center;"|No | ||
| − | |Expensive; reaction with water releases hydrogen; least violent reaction of all alkaline metals | + | | Expensive; reaction with water releases hydrogen; least violent reaction of all alkaline metals |
|- | |- | ||
| − | |[[Lithium bromide]] | + | | [[Lithium bromide]] |
| style="text-align: center;"| | | style="text-align: center;"| | ||
| style="text-align: center;"|High | | style="text-align: center;"|High | ||
| Line 263: | Line 263: | ||
| | | | ||
|- | |- | ||
| − | |[[Lithium chloride]] | + | | [[Lithium chloride]] |
| style="text-align: center;"|Neutral | | style="text-align: center;"|Neutral | ||
| style="text-align: center;"| | | style="text-align: center;"| | ||
| style="text-align: center;"| | | style="text-align: center;"| | ||
| style="text-align: center;"|Yes | | style="text-align: center;"|Yes | ||
| − | |Drying must be done in a stream of hydrogen chloride | + | | Drying must be done in a stream of hydrogen chloride |
|- | |- | ||
| − | |[[Luthetium(III) chloride]] | + | | [[Luthetium(III) chloride]] |
| style="text-align: center;"| | | style="text-align: center;"| | ||
| style="text-align: center;"| | | style="text-align: center;"| | ||
| Line 277: | Line 277: | ||
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|- | |- | ||
| − | |[[Luthetium(III) nitrate]] | + | | [[Luthetium(III) nitrate]] |
| style="text-align: center;"| | | style="text-align: center;"| | ||
| style="text-align: center;"| | | style="text-align: center;"| | ||
| Line 284: | Line 284: | ||
| | | | ||
|- | |- | ||
| − | |[[Magnesium]] | + | | [[Magnesium]] |
| style="text-align: center;"| | | style="text-align: center;"| | ||
| style="text-align: center;"| | | style="text-align: center;"| | ||
| style="text-align: center;"| | | style="text-align: center;"| | ||
| style="text-align: center;"|No | | style="text-align: center;"|No | ||
| − | |Reaction is very slow, rarely used | + | | Reaction is very slow, rarely used |
|- | |- | ||
| − | |[[Magnesium sulfate]] | + | | [[Magnesium sulfate]] |
| style="text-align: center;"|Neutral | | style="text-align: center;"|Neutral | ||
| style="text-align: center;"|High | | style="text-align: center;"|High | ||
| style="text-align: center;"|Medium | | style="text-align: center;"|Medium | ||
| style="text-align: center;"|Yes | | style="text-align: center;"|Yes | ||
| − | |Good multipurpose drying agent; exists in powder and granular form; has the ability to absorb a lot of water | + | | Good multipurpose drying agent; exists in powder and granular form; has the ability to absorb a lot of water |
|- | |- | ||
| − | |[[Magnesium chloride]] | + | | [[Magnesium chloride]] |
| style="text-align: center;"|Neutral | | style="text-align: center;"|Neutral | ||
| style="text-align: center;"|High | | style="text-align: center;"|High | ||
| style="text-align: center;"|Medium | | style="text-align: center;"|Medium | ||
| style="text-align: center;"|Yes | | style="text-align: center;"|Yes | ||
| − | |Deliquescent | + | | Deliquescent |
|- | |- | ||
| − | |Molecular sieves | + | | [[Molecular sieve|Molecular sieves]] |
| style="text-align: center;"| | | style="text-align: center;"| | ||
| style="text-align: center;"|High | | style="text-align: center;"|High | ||
| Line 312: | Line 312: | ||
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|- | |- | ||
| − | |[[Neodymium(III) chloride]] | + | | [[Neodymium(III) chloride]] |
| style="text-align: center;"| | | style="text-align: center;"| | ||
| style="text-align: center;"| | | style="text-align: center;"| | ||
| Line 319: | Line 319: | ||
| | | | ||
|- | |- | ||
| − | |[[Neodymium(III) nitrate]] | + | | [[Neodymium(III) nitrate]] |
| style="text-align: center;"| | | style="text-align: center;"| | ||
| style="text-align: center;"| | | style="text-align: center;"| | ||
| Line 326: | Line 326: | ||
| | | | ||
|- | |- | ||
| − | |[[Phosphorus pentoxide]] | + | | [[Phosphorus pentoxide]] |
| style="text-align: center;"| | | style="text-align: center;"| | ||
| style="text-align: center;"| | | style="text-align: center;"| | ||
| Line 333: | Line 333: | ||
| | | | ||
|- | |- | ||
| − | |[[Potassium]] | + | | [[Potassium]] |
| style="text-align: center;"| | | style="text-align: center;"| | ||
| style="text-align: center;"| | | style="text-align: center;"| | ||
| style="text-align: center;"| | | style="text-align: center;"| | ||
| style="text-align: center;"|No | | style="text-align: center;"|No | ||
| − | | | + | | More often used to remove traces of water from aprotic solvents |
|- | |- | ||
| − | |[[Potassium carbonate]] | + | | [[Potassium carbonate]] |
| style="text-align: center;"|Alkaline | | style="text-align: center;"|Alkaline | ||
| style="text-align: center;"|Low | | style="text-align: center;"|Low | ||
| style="text-align: center;"|Medium | | style="text-align: center;"|Medium | ||
| style="text-align: center;"|Yes | | style="text-align: center;"|Yes | ||
| − | |Only for alkaline compounds | + | | Only for alkaline compounds |
|- | |- | ||
| − | |[[Potassium hydroxide]] | + | | [[Potassium hydroxide]] |
| style="text-align: center;"|Alkaline | | style="text-align: center;"|Alkaline | ||
| style="text-align: center;"|High | | style="text-align: center;"|High | ||
| style="text-align: center;"|High | | style="text-align: center;"|High | ||
| style="text-align: center;"|Yes | | style="text-align: center;"|Yes | ||
| − | |Very effective for basic compounds, such as amines; caustic | + | | Very effective for basic compounds, such as amines; caustic |
|- | |- | ||
| − | |[[Praseodymium(III) chloride]] | + | | [[Praseodymium(III) chloride]] |
| style="text-align: center;"| | | style="text-align: center;"| | ||
| style="text-align: center;"| | | style="text-align: center;"| | ||
| Line 361: | Line 361: | ||
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|- | |- | ||
| − | |[[Praseodymium(III) nitrate]] | + | | [[Praseodymium(III) nitrate]] |
| style="text-align: center;"| | | style="text-align: center;"| | ||
| style="text-align: center;"| | | style="text-align: center;"| | ||
| Line 368: | Line 368: | ||
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|- | |- | ||
| − | |[[Rubidium]] | + | | [[Rubidium]] |
| style="text-align: center;"| | | style="text-align: center;"| | ||
| style="text-align: center;"| | | style="text-align: center;"| | ||
| style="text-align: center;"| | | style="text-align: center;"| | ||
| style="text-align: center;"|No | | style="text-align: center;"|No | ||
| − | |Expensive; reaction with water is highly explosive | + | | Expensive; reaction with water is highly explosive |
|- | |- | ||
| − | |[[Samarium(III) chloride]] | + | | [[Samarium(III) chloride]] |
| style="text-align: center;"| | | style="text-align: center;"| | ||
| style="text-align: center;"| | | style="text-align: center;"| | ||
| Line 382: | Line 382: | ||
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|- | |- | ||
| − | |[[Samarium(III) nitrate]] | + | | [[Samarium(III) nitrate]] |
| style="text-align: center;"| | | style="text-align: center;"| | ||
| style="text-align: center;"| | | style="text-align: center;"| | ||
| Line 389: | Line 389: | ||
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|- | |- | ||
| − | |Silica gel | + | | [[Silica gel]] |
| style="text-align: center;"| | | style="text-align: center;"| | ||
| style="text-align: center;"| | | style="text-align: center;"| | ||
| Line 396: | Line 396: | ||
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|- | |- | ||
| − | |[[Sodium]] | + | | [[Sodium]] |
| style="text-align: center;"| | | style="text-align: center;"| | ||
| style="text-align: center;"| | | style="text-align: center;"| | ||
| style="text-align: center;"| | | style="text-align: center;"| | ||
| style="text-align: center;"|No | | style="text-align: center;"|No | ||
| − | | | + | | More often used to remove traces of water from aprotic solvents |
|- | |- | ||
| − | |[[Sodium hydroxide]] | + | | [[Sodium hydroxide]] |
| style="text-align: center;"|Alkaline | | style="text-align: center;"|Alkaline | ||
| style="text-align: center;"|High | | style="text-align: center;"|High | ||
| style="text-align: center;"|High | | style="text-align: center;"|High | ||
| style="text-align: center;"|Yes | | style="text-align: center;"|Yes | ||
| − | |Very effective for basic compounds, such as amines; caustic | + | | Very effective for basic compounds, such as amines; caustic |
|- | |- | ||
| − | |[[Sodium oxide]] | + | | [[Sodium oxide]] |
| style="text-align: center;"| | | style="text-align: center;"| | ||
| style="text-align: center;"| | | style="text-align: center;"| | ||
| Line 417: | Line 417: | ||
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|- | |- | ||
| − | |[[Sodium sulfate]] | + | | [[Sodium sulfate]] |
| style="text-align: center;"|Neutral | | style="text-align: center;"|Neutral | ||
| style="text-align: center;"|High | | style="text-align: center;"|High | ||
| style="text-align: center;"|Low | | style="text-align: center;"|Low | ||
| style="text-align: center;"|Yes | | style="text-align: center;"|Yes | ||
| − | |Used to dry solvents; Requires lots of it; only good for predrying; | + | | Used to dry solvents; Requires lots of it; only good for predrying; |
|- | |- | ||
| − | |[[Sulfur trioxide]] | + | | [[Sulfur trioxide]] |
| style="text-align: center;"| | | style="text-align: center;"| | ||
| style="text-align: center;"|High | | style="text-align: center;"|High | ||
| style="text-align: center;"|Very high | | style="text-align: center;"|Very high | ||
| style="text-align: center;"|No | | style="text-align: center;"|No | ||
| − | |Tends to form a mist of sulfuric acid in contact with moist air | + | | Tends to form a mist of sulfuric acid in contact with moist air |
|- | |- | ||
| − | |[[Sulfuric acid]] (concentrated) | + | | [[Sulfuric acid]] (concentrated) |
| style="text-align: center;"|Acidic | | style="text-align: center;"|Acidic | ||
| style="text-align: center;"|High | | style="text-align: center;"|High | ||
| style="text-align: center;"|High | | style="text-align: center;"|High | ||
| style="text-align: center;"|No | | style="text-align: center;"|No | ||
| − | |Used in desiccators, cannot be used to dry solutions directly | + | | Used in desiccators, cannot be used to dry solutions directly |
|- | |- | ||
| − | |[[Terbium(III) chloride]] | + | | [[Terbium(III) chloride]] |
| style="text-align: center;"| | | style="text-align: center;"| | ||
| style="text-align: center;"| | | style="text-align: center;"| | ||
| Line 445: | Line 445: | ||
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|- | |- | ||
| − | |[[Terbium(III) nitrate]] | + | | [[Terbium(III) nitrate]] |
| style="text-align: center;"| | | style="text-align: center;"| | ||
| style="text-align: center;"| | | style="text-align: center;"| | ||
| Line 452: | Line 452: | ||
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|- | |- | ||
| − | |[[Thulium(III) chloride]] | + | | [[Thulium(III) chloride]] |
| style="text-align: center;"| | | style="text-align: center;"| | ||
| style="text-align: center;"| | | style="text-align: center;"| | ||
| Line 459: | Line 459: | ||
| | | | ||
|- | |- | ||
| − | |[[Thulium(III) nitrate]] | + | | [[Thulium(III) nitrate]] |
| style="text-align: center;"| | | style="text-align: center;"| | ||
| style="text-align: center;"| | | style="text-align: center;"| | ||
| Line 466: | Line 466: | ||
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|- | |- | ||
| − | |[[Ytterbium(III) chloride]] | + | | [[Ytterbium(III) chloride]] |
| style="text-align: center;"| | | style="text-align: center;"| | ||
| style="text-align: center;"| | | style="text-align: center;"| | ||
| Line 473: | Line 473: | ||
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|- | |- | ||
| − | |[[Ytterbium(III) nitrate]] | + | | [[Ytterbium(III) nitrate]] |
| style="text-align: center;"| | | style="text-align: center;"| | ||
| style="text-align: center;"| | | style="text-align: center;"| | ||
| Line 480: | Line 480: | ||
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|- | |- | ||
| − | |[[Yttrium(III) chloride]] | + | | [[Yttrium(III) chloride]] |
| style="text-align: center;"| | | style="text-align: center;"| | ||
| style="text-align: center;"| | | style="text-align: center;"| | ||
| Line 487: | Line 487: | ||
| | | | ||
|- | |- | ||
| − | |[[Yttrium(III) nitrate]] | + | | [[Yttrium(III) nitrate]] |
| style="text-align: center;"| | | style="text-align: center;"| | ||
| style="text-align: center;"| | | style="text-align: center;"| | ||
| Line 494: | Line 494: | ||
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|- | |- | ||
| − | |[[Zinc chloride]] | + | | [[Zinc chloride]] |
| style="text-align: center;"| | | style="text-align: center;"| | ||
| style="text-align: center;"| | | style="text-align: center;"| | ||
| style="text-align: center;"| | | style="text-align: center;"| | ||
| style="text-align: center;"|Yes | | style="text-align: center;"|Yes | ||
| − | |Drying must be done in a stream of hydrogen chloride | + | | Drying must be done in a stream of hydrogen chloride |
|} | |} | ||
<sup>1</sup>All compounds are considered anhydrous. | <sup>1</sup>All compounds are considered anhydrous. | ||
==Gallery== | ==Gallery== | ||
| − | [[File: | + | [[File:Drying_Agents_Chart.png|thumb|left|400px]] |
| + | |||
[[Category:Chemical compounds]] | [[Category:Chemical compounds]] | ||
[[Category:Desiccants]] | [[Category:Desiccants]] | ||
[[Category:Data tables]] | [[Category:Data tables]] | ||
Revision as of 16:04, 30 October 2015
A desiccant is a chemical which is hygroscopic enough to absorb water from hydrated compounds in the same sealed environment.
Common desiccants
- Calcium
- Calcium chloride
- Calcium oxide
- Concentrated sulfuric acid
- Copper sulfate (anhydrous)
- Lanthanide chlorides and nitrates
- Magnesium sulfate
- Phosphorus pentoxide
- Silica gel
- Sodium and other alkali metals
- Sodium hydroxide
- Sodium oxide
Comparison
| Substance1 | pH | Water capacity | Effectiveness | Reversible | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acetonitrile | High | High | Yes | Rarely used | |
| Activated alumina | Medium | High | Yes | Can also be used to adsorb fluorides | |
| Activated charcoal | Medium | Medium | Yes | Will also adsorb other gasses | |
| Aerogel | High | High | Yes | Expensive | |
| Aluminium nitrate | Medium | Medium | No | ||
| Bentonite clay | |||||
| Benzophenone | Often used in combination with sodium or potassium | ||||
| Cadmium nitrate | |||||
| Calcium | High | Very high | No | Reaction with water releases large amounts of hydrogen | |
| Calcium chloride | Neutral | High | Medium | Yes | Deliquescent; often used in drying tubes |
| Calcium hydride | High | Very high | No | ||
| Calcium nitrate | Neutral | Medium | Medium | Yes | |
| Calcium oxide | High | High | No | ||
| Calcium sulfate | Neutral | Low | High | Yes | Very fast and efficient drying agent, but a lot of drying agent might be necessary |
| Cement (Portland) | Alkaline | Medium | Medium | No | Used in desiccators, cannot be used directly |
| Cerium(III) chloride | No | ||||
| Cerium(III) nitrate | No | ||||
| Cesium | No | Expensive; reaction with water is highly explosive | |||
| Cobalt(II) chloride | Yes | Mostly used as water indicator | |||
| Copper(II) sulfate | Neutral | Low | Medium | Yes | Mostly used as water indicator |
| Dysprosium(III) chloride | No | ||||
| Dysprosium(III) nitrate | No | ||||
| Erbium(III) chloride | No | ||||
| Erbium(III) nitrate | No | ||||
| Europium(III) chloride | No | ||||
| Europium(III) nitrate | No | ||||
| Gadolinium(III) chloride | No | ||||
| Gadolinium(III) nitrate | No | ||||
| Holmium(III) chloride | No | ||||
| Holmium(III) nitrate | No | ||||
| Lanthanum(III) chloride | No | ||||
| Lanthanum(III) nitrate | No | ||||
| Lithium | High | High | No | Expensive; reaction with water releases hydrogen; least violent reaction of all alkaline metals | |
| Lithium bromide | High | High | Yes | ||
| Lithium chloride | Neutral | Yes | Drying must be done in a stream of hydrogen chloride | ||
| Luthetium(III) chloride | No | ||||
| Luthetium(III) nitrate | No | ||||
| Magnesium | No | Reaction is very slow, rarely used | |||
| Magnesium sulfate | Neutral | High | Medium | Yes | Good multipurpose drying agent; exists in powder and granular form; has the ability to absorb a lot of water |
| Magnesium chloride | Neutral | High | Medium | Yes | Deliquescent |
| Molecular sieves | High | High | Yes | ||
| Neodymium(III) chloride | No | ||||
| Neodymium(III) nitrate | No | ||||
| Phosphorus pentoxide | No | ||||
| Potassium | No | More often used to remove traces of water from aprotic solvents | |||
| Potassium carbonate | Alkaline | Low | Medium | Yes | Only for alkaline compounds |
| Potassium hydroxide | Alkaline | High | High | Yes | Very effective for basic compounds, such as amines; caustic |
| Praseodymium(III) chloride | No | ||||
| Praseodymium(III) nitrate | No | ||||
| Rubidium | No | Expensive; reaction with water is highly explosive | |||
| Samarium(III) chloride | No | ||||
| Samarium(III) nitrate | No | ||||
| Silica gel | Yes | ||||
| Sodium | No | More often used to remove traces of water from aprotic solvents | |||
| Sodium hydroxide | Alkaline | High | High | Yes | Very effective for basic compounds, such as amines; caustic |
| Sodium oxide | No | ||||
| Sodium sulfate | Neutral | High | Low | Yes | Used to dry solvents; Requires lots of it; only good for predrying; |
| Sulfur trioxide | High | Very high | No | Tends to form a mist of sulfuric acid in contact with moist air | |
| Sulfuric acid (concentrated) | Acidic | High | High | No | Used in desiccators, cannot be used to dry solutions directly |
| Terbium(III) chloride | No | ||||
| Terbium(III) nitrate | No | ||||
| Thulium(III) chloride | No | ||||
| Thulium(III) nitrate | No | ||||
| Ytterbium(III) chloride | No | ||||
| Ytterbium(III) nitrate | No | ||||
| Yttrium(III) chloride | No | ||||
| Yttrium(III) nitrate | No | ||||
| Zinc chloride | Yes | Drying must be done in a stream of hydrogen chloride |
1All compounds are considered anhydrous.
