Question

Explain how the drying agent (Anhydrous Sodium Sulfate) acts to remove water from a solution. How can you tell the drying agent is effective?

Answer 1

Sodium sulfate exists as many hydrates. It absorbs moisture from the atmosphere and forms many hydrates. So, it's formula is Na_{​​​​2}​​​​SO_​​4 • xH2O where X represents the number of moles of water absorbed by sodium sulfate. Most commonly, x is 10. So, due to this property of forming hydrates, sodium sulfate is used as a drying agent. When you put sodium sulfate in a humid room or something moist, it absorbs water and forms hydrates thereby acting as a drying agent.

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