How can saline hydrides remove traces of water from organic compounds?
Saline hydrides basically refer to the metal hydrides like NaH, LiH etc and such hydrides when come in contact with water they react violently with water to form base and liberate hydrogen gas and these hydrides are ionic in nature. The reaction of saline hydrides with water can be represented as:
AH(s) + H2O(l)→ AOH(aq) + H2(g)
(where, A = Na, Ca,……)
When added to an organic solvent, they react with water present in it. Hydrogen escapes into the atmosphere leaving behind the metallic hydroxide. The dry organic solvent distils over.