A drying agent is an inorganic salt which readily takes up water to become hydrated. The process of synthesizing and isolating an organic compound often results in an organic compound or solution contaminated with traces of water. For instance, in aqueous extractions some water will be transferred into the organic phase because of the partial miscibility of the organic phase and water. Also, many reactions themselves are performed in an aqueous solution. This water must be removed before the required compound can be properly characterized.
There are two types of Drying agent:
- As water is the most common liquid on this planet, a drying agent is commonly a desiccant. As desiccation indicates an extreme dryness, the term drying agent is sometimes used for mild agents, such as silica gel, as opposed to strong desiccants, such as concentrated sulfuric acid.
- Drying oils completely dry up organic liquids through autoxidation, forming a hard film. There are also semi-drying oils, which only partially harden on exposure to atmospheric oxygen. Oils which do not exhibit this behavior are known as non-drying oils. Drying oils are commonly found in paints and other finishes, and are used in seasoning cast iron cookware.
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