Heat and water absorption by calcium chloride

Can calcium chloride be effectively used as a desiccant to absorb both heat and moisture?




Anhydrous calcium chloride is an effective desiccant, but the absorption of water by anhydrous calcium chloride is exothermic; i.e. the reaction releases heat.


$$\ce{CaCl2 + 6 H2O -> CaCl2 . 6 H2O}\quad\Delta H = -97\ \mathrm{kJ/mol}$$


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