Dessicator, Clear Glass

Quick Answer: A clear glass desiccator is a transparent, lidded glass container with a lower compartment for a drying agent and a plate above it for samples. It gives school and college laboratories a simple way to keep hygroscopic chemicals, dried samples and small apparatus in dry air at room temperature.

Keeping Water Out of Chemicals That Attract It

Many laboratory chemicals take up water from the air. Sodium hydroxide pellets turn wet and sticky, anhydrous copper(II) sulfate turns blue, and calcium chloride can eventually dissolve in the water it absorbs. Once that happens, a weighed amount no longer contains the quantity of substance a student expects. A desiccator slows this down by holding the containers over a drying agent, which soaks up the water vapour that enters each time the lid is opened.

The transparent wall lets a teacher see at a glance what is stored and whether the indicating silica gel has changed colour, without opening the lid and letting moist air in. The listing specifies clear glass without saying which kind; in catalogues that wording usually signals the soda-lime alternative to borosilicate, which is well suited to room-temperature storage but less tolerant of hot items.

For cooling crucibles straight after heating in gravimetric work, the borosilicate glass desiccator is the better match. Plate diameter and lid type are not given in the listing.

Applications

• Storing deliquescent reagents such as sodium hydroxide pellets and calcium chloride between practicals
• Keeping dried filter papers, weighing boats and small samples dry before weighing
• Holding dried plant or soil samples for biology and geography projects before they are weighed
• Protecting moisture-sensitive indicator papers and test strips in the prep room

Specifications

Care & Handling

• Allow anything warm to cool to room temperature before it goes inside.
• Slide the lid on and off, and keep a folded cloth under the base so the desiccator cannot slip on a wet bench.
• Change or dry the desiccant regularly, since exhausted silica gel does nothing to protect the contents.
• Label containers inside and keep the plate free of spilled powder, which can reach and contaminate the desiccant.

Why Choose LabEquip

Schools and colleges that need dependable dry storage for a handful of reagents often choose a clear glass desiccator as the practical, visible option. It sits in LabEquip’s chemistry lab equipment category, and quantities or a preferred size can be sent via the contact page.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a desiccator and an airtight jar?

An airtight jar only stops more moist air getting in. A desiccator also contains a drying agent that removes the water vapour already inside and the vapour that enters when the lid is opened, so the air around the samples stays dry.

Is the clear glass version suitable for hot crucibles?

It is better kept for room-temperature storage. If your work involves cooling crucibles after heating, choose borosilicate glass, which tolerates warm items with much less risk of cracking.

How do I know when the silica gel needs changing?

Self-indicating silica gel changes colour as it absorbs water, typically from blue to pink or from orange to green depending on the indicator used. Once most of it has changed, dry it in an oven and let it cool in a closed container before reuse.

Where should the drying agent go?

In the lower compartment, below the perforated plate. Spread it in an even layer and keep it well below the plate so it never touches the samples or their containers.

Why do students struggle to open the lid?

The flange is greased to seal, and the lid is meant to slide off sideways, not lift. Show students how to hold the base firmly and push the lid across with the palm of the hand.

Can I store chemicals in open dishes inside?

Keep them in their own labelled, loosely capped containers. Open dishes of volatile or reactive chemicals can contaminate the desiccant and react with each other’s vapours.

Last Updated: September 2026