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Britannica Sources used in this answer

Why is zinc chloride used as a drying agent?

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A labeled diagram of the periodic table entry for zinc, showing its atomic number 30, symbol Zn, atomic weight 65.38, electron configuration, name, hexagonal crystal structure, solid state at room temperature, and classification as a transition metal.
zinc

Zinc chloride is used as a drying agent because it is strongly deliquescent, meaning it has a high capacity to absorb water from its surroundings.1

This property allows the salt to effectively remove moisture, making it a useful chemical tool in various industrial applications.21