|
|
Drying
agents should be insoluble in the solvent to be dried as well as unreactive
toward both the solvent and the solute. Drying agents should also remove
water quickly and be easily removed by filtration.
| Drying
Agent |
Comments |
| MgSO4 |
The
most commonly used drying agent with high efficiency and low reactivity. |
| CaCl2 |
Has
the capacity to remove a great deal of water but slowly it also
will react with compounds containing O and N groups. This drying
agent is best reserved for use in guard tubes. |
| Na2SO4 |
Not
as efficient as MgSO4 but can be used in certain situations. |
| CaSO4 |
A
fast and efficient drying agent but with a lower capacity for water
than MgSO4 |
| K2CO3 |
Quite
a good drying agent but restricted for use with non-acidic solutions. |
| Molecular
Seives |
A
very efficient drying agent that is normally 'activated' in a hot
oven and then allowed to cool before use. |
|
