Desiccants in Chemistry

Desiccants in ChemistryDesiccants in chemistry are materials that are primarily used to keep the materials they are applied to dry. If these were used improperly, you might find that the materials would not remain dry.Desiccants are basically microscopic particles that are very similar to salt and are usually made up of boron and calcium. The reason why they are chosen is that they do not absorb moisture. When you apply a desiccant to an object, it will hold onto the moisture in the object until it is completely dry.One of the best desiccants are sodium thiosulfate and potassium thiosulfate. They are both very powerful and can stop the formation of water. Because they don't absorb moisture, these desiccants do not contribute to dampness and do not create any mold or mildew.Of course there are other products that are also helpful. Humic acid and calcium hydroxide are both common desiccants. These materials hold onto the moisture and remain suspended in the surrounding air for a long t ime.These types of chemicals can also be helpful in both organic and inorganic chemistry. For example, carbon-based polymer can be used as a desiccant in organic chemistry. You'll see it in use in many processes that involve getting chemicals down to very low temperatures such as hydrolysis of organic chemicals.Because of their physical properties, these products must be handled with care. In organic chemistry, you will often find that these chemicals are being used in the reaction of vinyl chloride, ethylene oxide, and methyl chloride. This is because the reaction is strong enough to pull these desiccants out of solution. They will dissolve, but there is no way for them to evaporate.While it is true that some of these products are soluble, the majority are not. If they were, they would be easily dissolved by neutralizing acid in an organic chemical. Therefore, even if the material they are put on does not dissolve, the desiccant remains suspended in the substance.If you want to lea rn more about the techniques used in chemistry, you may want to consider taking a chemistry class that includes both organic and inorganic chemistry. By incorporating the information you learn from these classes into your own, you will be well on your way to becoming a better chemical engineer.