Prep. Made by dissolving three hundred and thirty-six grains of chloride of calcium in one fluid ounce of distilled water.

Use. This solution, like the chloride of calcium itself, has a very strong absorbing power for water. It is used in the Pharmacopoeia as a test for the purity of the spirits of nitrous ether. When one volume of the spirits of nitrous ether is agitated with two volumes of the solution of chloride of calcium, one and a half per cent. by volume of nitrous ether separates and rises to the surface. In this case the water, alcohol, etc, which are present are absorbed by the solution, and the pure ether separates.