In the laboratory preparation of ammonia, a student used H2SO4 for drying instead of CaO. What would be the repercussion of his action?
Hence, quicklime (CaO) is used as a drying agent. Drying agents are substances capable of absorbing the moisture present in substances. Both of them being basic, quicklime can remove the moisture from ammonia without reacting with it. CaO+NH3→
No reaction but, quicklime reacts with water to form calcium hydroxide making it a suitable dehydrating agent. CaO+H2O→Ca(OH)2