Editing Desiccator (section)

==Operation==
In laboratory use, the most common desiccators are circular and made of heavy [[glass]]. There is usually a removable platform on which the items to be stored are placed. The desiccant, usually an otherwise-inert solid such as [[silica gel]], fills the space under the platform. Colour changing silica may be used to indicate when it should be refreshed. Indication gels typically change from blue to pink (if the indicator is [[cobalt(II) chloride]]) as they absorb moisture but other colours may be used.

A [[stopcock]] may be included to permit the desiccator to be evacuated. Such models are usually known as '''vacuum desiccators'''. When a vacuum is to be applied, it is a common practice to criss-cross the vacuum desiccator with tape, or to place it behind a screen to minimize damage or injury caused by an [[Implosion (mechanical process)|implosion]]. To maintain a good seal, vacuum [[grease (lubricant)|grease]] is usually applied to the [[flange]]s.