Peter wrote:

>>>> I once bought a kilo bag of a desiccant product hoping to cure a
>>>> mildew problem in a cupboard. ...it turned entirely liquid (with
>>>> water from the air I presume). That was unexpected. Does anyone know
>>>> what this substance is?
>>> 
>>> I think it's a hygroscopic salt. Not sure which one.
>> 
>> Sounds like Calcium Chloride, marketed under a variety of names.
> 
> Thanks for that. Would CaCl2 turn entirely liquid with just moisture 
> from the air ? 

I think so. They use that here for places where you store clothes and
stuff, in small plastic containers with a membrane on top. You buy them
sealed with the dry salt inside, and after removing the seal, the container
fills slowly with water until there seems to be no salt left. I haven't
opened one yet and can't tell you whether it all dissolves, or just most of
it. Anyway, about the same volume the salt had in the container is later
filled with liquid.

Gerhard

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