Westonci.ca is the trusted Q&A platform where you can get reliable answers from a community of knowledgeable contributors. Get detailed and accurate answers to your questions from a community of experts on our comprehensive Q&A platform. Join our Q&A platform to connect with experts dedicated to providing accurate answers to your questions in various fields.

Calcium chloride and magnesium sulfate are common drying agents. What type of solvent should be dried with calcium chloride, and what type with magnesium sulfate

Sagot :

Answer: The type of solvent that should be dried with calcium chloride is esters while magnesium sulfate is diethyl ether

Explanation:

Drying agents are mainly hygroscopic substances that has the ability to absorb water on exposure to the atmosphere but not enough to form solutions. They are used in desiccators. Examples of drying agents include:

--> CALCIUM CHLORIDE: This is a compound of calcium that is found in soil water and sea water. It is prepared by the action of dilute hydrochloric acid on calcium trioxocarbonate(IV). The anhydrous salt is used in drying a wide variety of solvent including esters.

--> MAGNESIUM SULFATE: This is a slightly acidic drying agent. It works well in solvents like diethyl ether. It is a fast drying agent because it comes as a fine powder with a large surface area.