what does a drying agent do
It is also useful for the purification of chloroform and removal of peroixdes. - Barium oxide, BaO The commercially available anhydrous product is an inexpensive drying agent which is useful for amines and pyridines (30-50ppm after standing for 24 hours over 5% w/v). It is strongly basic and is ineffective for alcohol and dipolar aprotic solvents.